Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-algebra-analysis-and-differential-equations-2-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2008/9/a/iv/solution

For the linearized system a centre occurs when . Its real solutions are periodic ellipses after an invertible linear coordinate change.
As explained by a centre in the linearization need not be a nonlinear centre, for a nonlinear system these eigenvalues alone do not guarantee a centre. For example , has eigenvalues at zero but polar equations , , so trajectories spiral inward. Removing the cubic terms gives a genuine centre with the same Jacobian. Thus there is no eigenvalue-only sufficient condition for a nonlinear centre in the stated generality.

New to topics? Read the docs here!