Paper 3, Section I, C

Dynamical Systems | Part II, 2011

For the map xn+1=λxn(1xn2)x_{n+1}=\lambda x_{n}\left(1-x_{n}^{2}\right), with λ>0\lambda>0, show the following:

(i) If λ<1\lambda<1, then the origin is the only fixed point and is stable.

(ii) If λ>1\lambda>1, then the origin is unstable. There are two further fixed points which are stable for 1<λ<21<\lambda<2 and unstable for λ>2\lambda>2.

(iii) If λ<33/2\lambda<3 \sqrt{3} / 2, then xnx_{n} has the same sign as the starting value x0x_{0} if x0<1\left|x_{0}\right|<1.

(iv) If λ<3\lambda<3, then xn+1<23/3\left|x_{n+1}\right|<2 \sqrt{3} / 3 when xn<23/3\left|x_{n}\right|<2 \sqrt{3} / 3. Deduce that iterates starting sufficiently close to the origin remain bounded, though they may change sign.

[Hint: For (iii) and (iv) a graphical representation may be helpful.]

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