Chapter 4: Problem 7
Recall that a sequence of the form \(x_{n+1}=f\left(x_{n}\right)\) is called a dynamical system. (a) Using \(f(x)=x^{2}\) with \(x_{1}=a\), determine if \(x_{n+1}=f\left(x_{n}\right)\) has a limit if \(a=1, a=1.05\), and \(a=0.95\). This dynamical system is said to have a fixed point at \(x\) if \(f(x)=x\). To find the fixed points \(x_{n+1}=f\left(x_{n}\right)\) with \(f(x)=x^{2}\), we solve \(x^{2}=x\) or \(x^{2}-x=0\) with solutions and \(x=0\) and \(x=1\). In simple terms, a fixed point is called stable if a sequence that starts close to the fixed point has the fixed point as a limit. Otherwise, the fixed point is called unstable. (b) Would you classify \(x=1\) as stable or unstable? Would you classify \(x=0\) as stable or unstable? Briefly explain. (c) Consider \(x_{n+1}=f\left(x_{n}\right)\) with \(f(x)=2 x(1-x)\). i. Find the two fixed points. ii. Let \(x_{1}=0.25\). Does the sequence \(x_{n+1}=f\left(x_{n}\right)\) converge in this case? If so, what is the limit? iii. Let \(x_{1}=0.75\). Does the sequence \(x_{n+1}=f\left(x_{n}\right)\) converge in this case? If so, what is the limit? iv. Select any value of \(x_{1}\) between 0 and 1 . Does this choice affect the limit? v. Classify the two fixed points as stable or unstable. (d) Sometimes, unusual behavior can be observed when working with dynamical systems. For example, consider the dynamical system with \(f(x)=x+2.5 x(1-x)\) and \(x_{1}=1.2\). We see that the sequence oscillates between \(0.6\) and \(1.2\). We say that the dynamical system has a 2 -cycle because the values of the sequence oscillate between two numbers. (e) Describe the behavior of \(x_{n+1}=f\left(x_{n}\right)\) if \(f(x)=x+2.5 x(1-x)\) and \(x_{1}=1.201\). Do you see a cycle? If so, how many numbers. What are these numbers? Does a small change in the initial value of the sequence affect the resulting values of the sequence based on the results of this problem and the previous example? (f) Describe the behavion of \(x_{n+1}=f\left(x_{n}\right)\) if \(f(x)=x+2.5 x(1-x)\) and \(x_{1}=1.3\). Do you see a cycle? If so, how many numbers. What are these numbers? (g) Describe the behavior of \(x_{n+1}=f\left(x_{n}\right)\) if \(f(x)=x+2.5 x(1-x)\) and \(x_{1}=1.2\). If the values do not seem to approach a single value or a cycle of several values, we say that the dynamical system is chaotic. Does this system appear to be chaotic? In addition to your explanations, turn in the graphs obtained with plot for each problem.
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Key Concepts
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