Let denote the flow map generated by .
is nonpositive on .
The First Lyapunov theorem says that the existence of such a function makes the origin Lyapunov stable. To prove it, choose a sufficiently small closed ball . By compactness and positive definiteness,
By continuity, some satisfies whenever . Along a trajectory beginning in , cannot increase. Such a trajectory therefore cannot reach the sphere , where . Hence it remains in for every , which is Lyapunov stability.
The LaSalle invariance principle says that if a trajectory remains in a compact positively invariant set on which , then it approaches the largest invariant subset of .
For
the orbital derivative is
Choosing cancels the mixed term. Taking gives
so
This function has positive definiteness near the origin, and
For and , both terms are nonpositive and equality holds only at . Thus is a strict Lyapunov function near the origin, and the Second Lyapunov theorem proves that the origin is asymptotically stable.