Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2018/iii/paper-331/4/b/i/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 iii Paper 331 4 b i Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
A normal mode has eigenvalue of . Setting , the characteristic equation isThusOne branch then has positive imaginary frequency and hence positive exponential growth rate. If , both frequencies are real and the distinct-eigenvalue system has bounded oscillatory motion. At equality there is no positive exponential growth rate, but a nontrivial Jordan block can cause algebraic growth, so exponential neutrality must not be confused with Lyapunov stability. The parameter listed in the PDF does not appear in the printed matrix and has no effect on this calculation.
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