Consider a quadratic form \(q(\vec{x})=\vec{x} \cdot A \vec{x}\) of two
variables, \(x_{1}\) and \(x_{2}\). Consider the system of differential equations
$$\left|\begin{array}{l}
\frac{d x_{1}}{d t}=\frac{\partial q}{\partial x_{1}} \\
\frac{d x_{2}}{d t}=\frac{\partial q}{\partial x_{2}}
\end{array}\right|$$
or, more succinctly,
$$\frac{d \vec{x}}{d t}=\operatorname{grad} q$$
a. Show that the system \(d \vec{x} / d t=\operatorname{grad} q\) is linear by
finding a matrix \(B\) (in terms of the symmetric matrix
\(A\) ) such that grad \(q=B \vec{x}\)
b. When \(q\) is negative definite, draw a sketch showing possible level curves
of \(q .\) On the same sketch, draw a few trajectories of the system \(d \vec{x}
/ d t=\operatorname{grad} q\) What does your sketch suggest about the stability
of the system \(d \vec{x} / d t=\operatorname{grad} q ?\)
c. Do the same as in part b for an indefinite quadratic form.
d. Explain the relationship between the definiteness of the form \(q\) and the
stability of the system \(d \vec{x} / d t\) \(=\operatorname{grad} q\)