Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2019 / ii / Paper 1 / 31E / iv

For $x\ne \pm 1$, eliminating time gives the separable differential equationand henceDefine the possible limit at $x=s\in \{-1,1\}$ for a trajectory starting off the boundary lines byThe $k<0$ set is empty because $|y|\to \infty$, so there is no finite accumulation point. Since $\dot{x}<0$ on $(-1,1)$ and $\dot{x}>0$ outside $[-1,1]$, the complete classification off the boundary lines isFor $x_0>1$ the solution has forward finite-time blow-up, and for $x_0<-1$ it has backward finite-time blow-up, explaining the other empty entries under the usual infinite-time definitions.

It remains to treat $x_0=s=\pm 1$. Here $x(t)=s$ and $y(t)=y_0{e}^{kst}$. If $y_0=0$, both limit sets equal $\{(s,0)\}$. If $y_0\ne 0$, thenThis includes all boundary cases in both $k$ and the initial point.