Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2014 / ia / Paper 2 / 8B / iii / Solution

The phase plane system is $\dot{x}=y$, $\dot{y}=-cy-\sin x$. Its equilibrium points are $(k\pi ,0)$ for every integer $k$. At such a point the Jacobian matrix and characteristic equation areFor even $k$, the equilibrium point is a stable focus for $0<c<2$, with eigenvalues $-c/2\pm i\sqrt{1-c^2/4}$; it is a stable node for $c>2$, with two distinct negative real eigenvalues. The excluded value $c=2$ gives the repeated critical case.

For odd $k$, the eigenvalues are $(-c\pm \sqrt{c^2+4})/2$. One is positive and one negative, so each is a saddle equilibrium for every $c>0$. These classifications follow from the linearization of a dynamical system, since all the relevant eigenvalues have nonzero real part for $c>0$. The even equilibria remain hyperbolic at $c=2$ too, although their linearization then has a repeated eigenvalue; that critical case is excluded from the requested classification.