Exercise · ZW-STABILITY-OF-AN-EQUILIBRIUM-009 · ★★★ Advanced

The origin of \(\mathbf x'=A\mathbf x\) with \(A=\begin{pmatrix}0&1\\-1&-1\end{pmatrix}\) is:

Choose one option.

Show answer
  • C. Asymptotically stable

Explanation

\(\lambda^2+\lambda+1=0\) gives \(\lambda=\tfrac{-1\pm i\sqrt3}{2}\), with real part \(-\tfrac12<0\). A zero on the diagonal does not matter: what counts is the real part of the eigenvalues.

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Review the concept: Stability of an equilibrium

An equilibrium \(\mathbf x^*\) is stable if, for every tolerance \(\varepsilon\), there is a radius \(\delta\) such that solutions starting within \(\delta\) of it never move farther than \(\varepsilon\).

\[\|\mathbf x(0)-\mathbf x^*\|<\delta\;\Longrightarrow\;\|\mathbf x(t)-\mathbf x^*\|<\varepsilon\quad\text{for all }t\ge0\]

More practice problems: stability of an equilibrium

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