For , differentiate and use the angular derivative . The polar coordinates satisfy
Hence the rotation is clockwise. The origin is an unstable equilibrium, while is a limit cycle of period . Writing gives the logistic differential equation . For ,
All nonzero solutions tend to the unit-circle attracting limit cycle as , spiralling outward for and inward for . For the solution exists for every real time and approaches the origin as ; for it remains periodic in both time directions. For , the denominator first vanishes at
This finite-time blow-up of an ordinary differential equation occurs backward in time. Such exterior solutions have no behavior: their maximal time interval is . The zero solution exists for all time and has no defined polar angle.
The planar system , has polar coordinates , . Every nonzero orbit approaches the clockwise unit-circle limit cycle, of period . For ,
Interior orbits approach the origin backward in time, but exterior orbits have backward finite-time blow-up of an ordinary differential equation at . Thus forward convergence to a limit cycle does not imply existence for all negative times.