Name:__________________ Date: ____________

Jake Schoenherr Coordinating Seminar

Autonomous Equations

An autonomous equation is an equation that has the form: dy/dt = f(y)

These equations do not contain the variable on the right side of the equation.

There are two types of autonomous equations: Exponential Growth and Logistic Growth.

There are three steps to complete an autonomous equation: Phase-Line Analysis, Solution Plots, and
Stability Theorem.

Example 1: dy/dt = (y-1)^2 (y-3)

Let’s open Desmos!

Instead write the equation f(x) = (x-1)^2 (x-3).

As you can see from your graph, the line hits the x-axis twice, at 1 and 3. These are your y values for the
original equation.

Step 1: Now we will create our Phase-Line Analysis

 To create your Phase-Line Analysis you have to know what arrows to put. If your line is below
the x-axis you will put a left arrow (), if the line is above the x-axis you will put a right arrow
(). \
Your Phase-Line Graph should read left arrow, your y=1 point, left arrow, your y=3 point, and a right
arrow.

Now let’s determine if these values are stable, unstable, or semi-stable.

 If your point has no arrows facing it, then it is unstable
 If your point has one arrow facing it, then it is semi-stable
 If your point has two arrows facing it, then it is stable
Here we can see that y=1 is semi-stable, and y=3 is unstable.

Step 2: Solution Plot

We will now represent your equilibrium lines by plotting them on a separate graph.
We will draw a line at y=1, and y=3.
Now we will look at our Phase-Line Graph.
 As you can see values before 1 diverge. So we will draw a line on our solution plot graph that is
diverging from our equilibrium line of y=1.
 Next you see your values between 1 and 3 are diverging from 3 and converging at 1. We will
now draw a line that diverges from 3 and converges to 1 on our solution plot graph.
 Lastly we see that values above 3 are diverging, so on our solution plot we will draw a line above
3 that is diverging.

Step 3: Stability Theorem

Stability Theorem:
If y is an equilibrium to dy/dt = f(y) then:
1. If f’(y) < 0, then y is stable
2. If f’(y) >0, then y is unstable
3. If f’(y) = 0, then y is semi-stable

Now let’s go to Mathematica!

Let’s type in:
f[x_] := (x-1)^2 (x-3)
 Don’t forget to press shift enter

Then type:
F’[x] Shift Enter

Your derivative for the equation will come up.

Now we must see if our values are stable, unstable, or semi-stable.

Type: f’[1] Shift Enter

F’[1] = 0 f’[x] = 0, so y=1 is semi-stable
F’[3]=4 f’[x]>0, so y=3 is unstable.

That’s how you solve an Autonomous Equation!

Now let’s try two more together!

1. dy/dt = (y-1)(y-5)(2-y)

2. dy/dt = y(2-y)(4-y)