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Using Differentials To Study Population Dynamics

This document discusses using differentials to model population dynamics. It introduces a generational population model where the next generation's population is given by a function P(x) applied to the current population x. A stable population occurs at a "fixed point" where P(x)=x. A fixed point x0 is considered attracting if successive generations have populations closer to x0 when starting near x0. It asks the reader to show that if x0 is a fixed point and the derivative |P'(x0)| is less than 1, then x0 is attracting. It also asks the reader to find the fixed points and determine if they are attracting for the function P(x)=ax(b-x)

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Vinayak Jha
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27 views

Using Differentials To Study Population Dynamics

This document discusses using differentials to model population dynamics. It introduces a generational population model where the next generation's population is given by a function P(x) applied to the current population x. A stable population occurs at a "fixed point" where P(x)=x. A fixed point x0 is considered attracting if successive generations have populations closer to x0 when starting near x0. It asks the reader to show that if x0 is a fixed point and the derivative |P'(x0)| is less than 1, then x0 is attracting. It also asks the reader to find the fixed points and determine if they are attracting for the function P(x)=ax(b-x)

Uploaded by

Vinayak Jha
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Using Differentials to Study Population Dynamics

We have seen that differentials give a convenient way for expressing linear approximations. In
this example, we explore population dynamics in the language of differentials.
A simple generational model of population dynamics says that an initial population x will yield
a next generation with population given by a function P (x). The next generation after that is
given by “iterating” the function P , that is, P (P (x)). We can keep applying P to the result to
find the population of successive generations. Note in particular that population will be stable over
generations at any x such that P (x) = x. Such an x is known as a “fixed point.”
We say that a fixed point x0 is “attracting” if, given an initial population value x0 + Δx with
Δx sufficiently small, the successive generations have size closer and closer to x0 . More formally,
the sequence of values

x0 + Δx, P (x0 + Δx), P (P (x0 + Δx)), P (P (P (x0 + Δx))), . . .

gets closer and closer to x0 .

Question:

• Show that if x0 is a fixed point of P (x) and |P � (x0 )| < 1, then x0 is attracting.

• Given fixed positive constants a, b with ab > 1, find the fixed points of P (x) = ax(b − x) and
determine if they are attracting.
MIT OpenCourseWare
http://ocw.mit.edu

18.01SC Single Variable Calculus��


Fall 2010 ��

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