Exercise · ZW-STABILITY-OF-AN-EQUILIBRIUM-010 · ★★★ Advanced

The origin of \(\mathbf x'=A\mathbf x\) with \(A=\begin{pmatrix}0&0\\0&-2\end{pmatrix}\) is:

Choose one option.

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  • B. Stable, but not asymptotically

Explanation

The solutions are \(x=c_1,\ y=c_2e^{-2t}\). None grows, so the origin is stable, but \(x\) does not tend to zero: it is not asymptotically stable (the whole \(x\)-axis consists of equilibria).

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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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