Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2022/ia/paper-2/8b/a/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2022 ia Paper 2 8B a Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Write the vector field asThe equilibrium points of a dynamical system in the closed first quadrant areThe Jacobian matrix is
At its eigenvalues are , so this is a saddle equilibrium. Its unstable direction is the positive -axis and its stable direction is the positive -axis; to first order, nearby trajectories satisfy , .
At the eigenvalues are , so it is also a saddle. The -axis is the stable direction, while trajectories entering the quadrant in the direction move away.
At ,whose eigenvalues areIt is therefore a stable spiral. A point immediately to its right moves upward, so nearby trajectories spiral counterclockwise into the equilibrium. These eigendirections and the inward spiral give the requested local phase-portrait sketches.
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