Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-topics-in-applied-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2010/b/4/i/solution
Past exam of the topics in applied mathematics course of the University of Oxford 2010 B 4 i Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-31
Let . Every term changes sign when both variables change sign, so . Consequently the derivative of equals , proving the stated rotational symmetry.
This is equivariance under a half-turn, not time reversibility. Reversibility of an autonomous differential equation requires a reverser satisfying , so that is a solution. The half-turn would require , the opposite of what holds. The usual mechanical candidate also fails when damping is present: its second equation would require identically. The symmetry relates two orbits with the same direction of time, and does not reverse their arrows.
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