# Math Help - Chaos theory: bifurcation diagram

1. ## Chaos theory: bifurcation diagram

Hi, I have this problem.

I need to sketch a bifurcation diagram for the fixed points of the family $\mu \rightarrow f_\mu$ where $f_\mu= \mu x^2(1-x)$.

I have that the fixed points are $x=0$ and $x=\frac{1\pm\sqrt{1-\frac{4}{\mu}}}{2}$

I know that:
When $\mu < 4$ $f_\mu$ drops below the identity mapping and so there is only one fixed point at $x=0$

When $\mu =4$ the identity mapping is tangent to $f_\mu$ and so there are 2 fixed points at $x=0$and $x= 0.5$

When $\mu > 4$ $f_\mu$ rises above the identity mapping and so there are 3 one fixed points at x=0 and $x=\frac{1\pm\sqrt{1 - \frac{4}{\mu}}}{2}$

So i can sort of picture how the diagram will look, I just can't figure out for what values of $\mu$ the fixed points $x=\frac{1\pm\sqrt{1 - \frac{4}{\mu}}}{2}$ will be repelling/attracting.

I know that $f'_\mu(x) = 3-\frac{\mu}{2}\pm\frac{\sqrt{\mu^2 - 4\mu} }{2}$ at the last two fixed points. And that if $|f'_\mu(x)|<1$ then fixed point is an attractor and if $|f'_\mu(x)|>1$ then fixed point is a repellor. But i'm stuck here.

Katy

2. hi !
Using the fixed point x=0 and $
f^{\prime}=2\mu x - 3\mu x^2]$

x=0 is a atracting fixed point , cause $
|f^{\prime}| <1$
.

for the other fixed point $x_{2}= \frac{1+\sqrt{1-4\mu}}{2}$

evaluating , you get $
f^{\prime}(x_{2})=\frac{6\mu^2-\mu\sqrt{1-4\mu}+\mu}{2}$

in case you want to know the values for $\mu$ so that $x_{2}$ is an atracting fixed point you have to solve the inequality

$|\frac{6\mu^2-\mu\sqrt{1-4\mu}+\mu}{2}|<1$
and for a repelling fixed point solve:
$|\frac{6\mu^2-\mu\sqrt{1-4\mu}+\mu}{2}|>1$
to sketch the bifurcation, in the x -axis you plot $\mu$ and in the y-axis put the fixed points.

locate the coordinates $(\mu,1)=(\frac{1}{4},1)$, and the use the results of the inequalities to draw the behaviour your are looking for.!

Originally Posted by harkapobi
Hi, I have this problem.

I need to sketch a bifurcation diagram for the fixed points of the family $\mu \rightarrow f_\mu$ where $f_\mu= \mu x^2(1-x)$.

I have that the fixed points are $x=0$ and $x=\frac{1\pm\sqrt{1-\frac{4}{\mu}}}{2}$

I know that:
When $\mu < 4$ $f_\mu$ drops below the identity mapping and so there is only one fixed point at $x=0$

When $\mu =4$ the identity mapping is tangent to $f_\mu$ and so there are 2 fixed points at $x=0$and $x= 0.5$

When $\mu > 4$ $f_\mu$ rises above the identity mapping and so there are 3 one fixed points at x=0 and $x=\frac{1\pm\sqrt{1 - \frac{4}{\mu}}}{2}$

So i can sort of picture how the diagram will look, I just can't figure out for what values of $\mu$ the fixed points $x=\frac{1\pm\sqrt{1 - \frac{4}{\mu}}}{2}$ will be repelling/attracting.

I know that $f'_\mu(x) = 3-\frac{\mu}{2}\pm\frac{\sqrt{\mu^2 - 4\mu} }{2}$ at the last two fixed points. And that if $|f'_\mu(x)|<1$ then fixed point is an attractor and if $|f'_\mu(x)|>1$ then fixed point is a repellor. But i'm stuck here.

Katy

3. Originally Posted by Sofia
hi !
Using the fixed point x=0 and $f^{\prime}=2\mu x - 3\mu x^2$

x=0 is a atracting fixed point , cause $|f^{\prime}| <1$.

for the other fixed point $x_{2}= \frac{1+\sqrt{1-4\mu}}{2}$

evaluating , you get $f^{\prime}(x_{2})=\frac{6\mu^2-\mu\sqrt{1-4\mu}+\mu}{2}$

in case you want to know the values for $\mu$ so that $x_{2}$ is an atracting fixed point you have to solve the inequality

$|\frac{6\mu^2-\mu\sqrt{1-4\mu}+\mu}{2}|<1$

and for a repelling fixed point solve:
$|\frac{6\mu^2-\mu\sqrt{1-4\mu}+\mu}{2}|>1$

to sketch the bifurcation, in the x -axis you plot $\mu$ and in the y-axis put the fixed points.

locate the coordinates $(\mu,1)=(\frac{1}{4},1)$, and the use the results of the inequalities to draw the behaviour your are looking for.!
Use 

4. Originally Posted by Sofia
hi !
Using the fixed point x=0 and $
f^{\prime}=2\mu x - 3\mu x^2]$

x=0 is a atracting fixed point , cause $
|f^{\prime}| <1$
.

for the other fixed point $x_{2}= \frac{1+\sqrt{1-4\mu}}{2}$

evaluating , you get $
f^{\prime}(x_{2})=\frac{6\mu^2-\mu\sqrt{1-4\mu}+\mu}{2}$

in case you want to know the values for $\mu$ so that $x_{2}$ is an atracting fixed point you have to solve the inequality

$|\frac{6\mu^2-\mu\sqrt{1-4\mu}+\mu}{2}|<1$
and for a repelling fixed point solve:
$|\frac{6\mu^2-\mu\sqrt{1-4\mu}+\mu}{2}|>1$
to sketch the bifurcation, in the x -axis you plot $\mu$ and in the y-axis put the fixed points.

locate the coordinates $(\mu,1)=(\frac{1}{4},1)$, and the use the results of the inequalities to draw the behaviour your are looking for.!
Hi, thanks for your help. Those inequalities are the parts i'm struggling with. I just can't solve them. Any clues on how I can do this?

Thanks

5. Well, you could just plot it, see what's up, then run a Solve in Mathematica on it:

Code:
Plot[(6*m^2 - m*Sqrt[1 - 4*m] + m)/2, {m, -1, 1}]
Solve[(6*m^2 - m*Sqrt[1 - 4*m] + m)/2 == 1, m]