Nonlinear, First Order,

Differential Equation
Ch. 22
Autonomous Equations and
Qualitative Analysis
The initial value problem:



If the function g and its partial derivative cg/cy are
continuous in some closed rectangle containing the point
(t
0
,y
0
), then in a neighborhood around t0 contained in the
rectangle, there is a unique solution y = (t) satisfying
two equations above
0 0
) (
) (
y t y
y g y
=
=

A qualitative Analysis often with the aid of a

phase diagram:
1 0 0
) 1 (
2
= = =
=
=
y and y y state steady
y y
y y y

A steady state equilibrium point of a nonlinear,

first order differential equation is
int , 0 /
:
int , 0 /
:
po that at y y
Unstable
po that at y y
Stable
> c c
< c c

(max) 2 /
) ( 0 1
) 1 ( 2 1 2 1 / 1
) ( 0 1
) 0 ( 2 1 2 1 / 0
1 0 0
2 2
2
= c c
< =
= = c c =
> =
= = c c =
= = =
=
y y
m equilibriu stable
y y y y at
m equilibriu unstable
y y y y at
y and y y state steady
y y y

Phase Diagram
0 1 y
y

Example 1
(min) 6 /
) ( 2 2 ) 3 / 2 ( 6 / 3 / 2
) ( 2 2 6 / 0
3 / 2 0
0 ) 2 3 (
0 2 3 0
2 3
2 2
2
2
= c c
= = c c =
= = c c =
= =
=
= =
=
y y
unstable y y y at
stable y y y y at
y and y
y y
y y y
y y y

Phase Diagram
0 1/3 2/3 y
y

A Fishery Model
with a Constant Rate
Suppose that a fish population grows according to
the function:
g(y) = 2y(1-y/2)
Where y is the stock of fish. The fish population is
subjected to a constant level of harvesting by a
fishing industry. If the harvest is a constant
amount equal to , will the fish population reach a
steady state (positive) size, in which case is a
sustainable activity, or will the fish population
decline and become extinct?
A Fishery Model
with a Constant
The growth of the fish population is reduced
by at each point time. The change in the
stock of fish:
4 / 3 2
4 / 3 ) 2 / 1 ( 2
2
=
=
y y
y y y

A Fishery Model
with a Constant
The steady state value of population
1 2 ) 5 . 0 ( 2 / 5 . 0
1 2 ) 5 . 1 ( 2
2 2 / 5 . 1
5 . 0 5 . 1
0 4 / 3 2 0
4 / 3 2
2
2
= + = c c =
= + =
+ = c c =
= =
= + =
+ =
y y y at
y y y y at
y and y
y y y
y y y

Phase Diagram
0 1.5 y
y

3/4
Neoclassical Model of
Economic Growth
A concave function of the capital-labor ratio
y=f(k)
y is output and k = K/L is the capital-labor ratio.
Concavity implies that f '(k) > 0 and f "(k) < 0.
Assuming a constant saving rate s.


sY K =

Neoclassical Model of
Economic


nk k sf
nk
L
Y
s
L
L
k
L
K
L
L K
L
K L
L
K
dt
d
k
=
= =
=
|
.
|

\
|
=
) (
2 2

Neoclassical Model of
Economic
Steady state
0 ) ( " /
) ( ' ) ( ' /
* 0
0 ,
) (
0
) (
2 2
< = c c
= = c c
= =
= =
=
k sf k k
s
n
k f n k sf k k
k k and k
k
s
n
k
k f
k
nk k sf k

Exercise 1
Use a phase diagram to evaluate each
differential equation bellows:
y y y d
y y y c
y y y b
y y y a
=
=
+ =
+ + =
2 / 1
2
2
2
.
2 / 1 .
16 / 3 .
16 / 3 .

Exercise 2
Demand:


Supply


If price adjust according to , where
o > 0 is a constant, conduct a qualitative analysis
of the dynamics of market price
2
= p q
d
p q
s
8 =
) (
s d
q q p =o