Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2017 / ii / Paper 4 / 31A / a / Solution

The fixed point zero has multiplier $F^{\prime }(0)=\mu$, so it is attracting for $|\mu |<1$ and repelling for $|\mu |>1$. Other real fixed points satisfyTheir multiplier is $M=1+bx+2a{x}^2$, and they are attracting exactly when $-2<bx+2a{x}^2<0$. At equality $M=\pm 1$ the linear test is inconclusive. For $b\ne 0$ two branches meet at $x_s=-b/(2a)$, ${\mu }_s=1+b^2/(4a)$, a generic saddle-node bifurcation. At $\mu =1$, the nonzero branch crossing zero gives a transcritical bifurcation when $b\ne 0$.

The three sketches use $(a,b)=(1,0),(1,1/2),(-1,-1/2)$ respectively; case (iii) therefore illustrates the subcritical-flip choice.