Lesson 9: Basins of attraction Since the Plot component turned out not to be completely reliable (at least on my computer), here's another attempt using an animation that should be more reliable. restart; with(plots): stair:= x -> ([x,x],[x,g(x)]); staircase:= proc(x0, a, b, n) local x, count, Curves, Staircase; uses plots; Curves:= plot([x,g(x)],x=a..b, colour=[red,blue]); x[0]:= x0; for count from 1 to n-1 do x[count]:= g(x[count-1]) end do; Staircase:= plot([seq(stair(x[j]),j=0..n-1)],colour=black); display([Curves, Staircase, plot([[x0,x0]],style=point,colour=black)]); end proc; g:= x -> 1.7*x^2 - x/2; animate(staircase, [x0,-1,1,3],x0=-1..1,frames=100,view=[-1..1,-1..g(-1)]); g:= x -> - x/3 - x^3; animate(staircase, [x0,-1,1,3],x0=-1..1,frames=100,view=[-1..1,g(-1)..g(1)]);

Back to theory: Given a continuous function LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2Ji1GLDYlUSJnRicvJSdpdGFsaWNHUSV0cnVlRicvJSxtYXRodmFyaWFudEdRJ2l0YWxpY0YnLUkjbW9HRiQ2LVEwJkFwcGx5RnVuY3Rpb247RicvRjhRJ25vcm1hbEYnLyUmZmVuY2VHUSZmYWxzZUYnLyUqc2VwYXJhdG9yR0ZCLyUpc3RyZXRjaHlHRkIvJSpzeW1tZXRyaWNHRkIvJShsYXJnZW9wR0ZCLyUubW92YWJsZWxpbWl0c0dGQi8lJ2FjY2VudEdGQi8lJ2xzcGFjZUdRJjAuMGVtRicvJSdyc3BhY2VHRlEtSShtZmVuY2VkR0YkNiQtRiw2JVEieEYnRjRGN0Y+Rj5GK0Y+ with attracting fixed point p, how could we find the immediate basin of attraction (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? What can LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2Ji1GLDYlUSJnRicvJSdpdGFsaWNHUSV0cnVlRicvJSxtYXRodmFyaWFudEdRJ2l0YWxpY0YnLUkjbW9HRiQ2LVEwJkFwcGx5RnVuY3Rpb247RicvRjhRJ25vcm1hbEYnLyUmZmVuY2VHUSZmYWxzZUYnLyUqc2VwYXJhdG9yR0ZCLyUpc3RyZXRjaHlHRkIvJSpzeW1tZXRyaWNHRkIvJShsYXJnZW9wR0ZCLyUubW92YWJsZWxpbWl0c0dGQi8lJ2FjY2VudEdGQi8lJ2xzcGFjZUdRJjAuMGVtRicvJSdyc3BhY2VHRlEtSShtZmVuY2VkR0YkNiQtRiw2JVEiYUYnRjRGN0Y+Rj5GK0Y+ be? Only a or b. Similarly for LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2Ji1GLDYlUSJnRicvJSdpdGFsaWNHUSV0cnVlRicvJSxtYXRodmFyaWFudEdRJ2l0YWxpY0YnLUkjbW9HRiQ2LVEwJkFwcGx5RnVuY3Rpb247RicvRjhRJ25vcm1hbEYnLyUmZmVuY2VHUSZmYWxzZUYnLyUqc2VwYXJhdG9yR0ZCLyUpc3RyZXRjaHlHRkIvJSpzeW1tZXRyaWNHRkIvJShsYXJnZW9wR0ZCLyUubW92YWJsZWxpbWl0c0dGQi8lJ2FjY2VudEdGQi8lJ2xzcGFjZUdRJjAuMGVtRicvJSdyc3BhY2VHRlEtSShtZmVuY2VkR0YkNiQtRiw2JVEiYkYnRjRGN0Y+Rj5GK0Y+. So there are four possibilities if a and b are finite: 1) 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, 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: a and b are fixed points (and can't be attractors). 2) 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, 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: LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiYUYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy9GM1Enbm9ybWFsRic= is a fixed point (not an attractor), LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiYkYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy9GM1Enbm9ybWFsRic= is a point mapped to LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiYUYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy9GM1Enbm9ybWFsRic=. 3) LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYnLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiZ0YnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy1JKG1mZW5jZWRHRiQ2JC1GLDYlUSJhRidGL0YyL0YzUSdub3JtYWxGJy1JI21vR0YkNi1RKSZlcXVhbHM7RidGOy8lJmZlbmNlR1EmZmFsc2VGJy8lKnNlcGFyYXRvckdGQy8lKXN0cmV0Y2h5R0ZDLyUqc3ltbWV0cmljR0ZDLyUobGFyZ2VvcEdGQy8lLm1vdmFibGVsaW1pdHNHRkMvJSdhY2NlbnRHRkMvJSdsc3BhY2VHUSwwLjI3Nzc3NzhlbUYnLyUncnNwYWNlR0ZSLUYsNiVRImJGJ0YvRjJGOw==, LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYnLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiZ0YnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy1JKG1mZW5jZWRHRiQ2JC1GLDYlUSJiRidGL0YyL0YzUSdub3JtYWxGJy1JI21vR0YkNi1RKSZlcXVhbHM7RidGOy8lJmZlbmNlR1EmZmFsc2VGJy8lKnNlcGFyYXRvckdGQy8lKXN0cmV0Y2h5R0ZDLyUqc3ltbWV0cmljR0ZDLyUobGFyZ2VvcEdGQy8lLm1vdmFibGVsaW1pdHNHRkMvJSdhY2NlbnRHRkMvJSdsc3BhY2VHUSwwLjI3Nzc3NzhlbUYnLyUncnNwYWNlR0ZSRjhGOw==: LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiYkYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy9GM1Enbm9ybWFsRic= is a fixed point (not an attractor), LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiYUYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy9GM1Enbm9ybWFsRic= is a point mapped to LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiYkYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy9GM1Enbm9ybWFsRic=. 4) LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYnLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiZ0YnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy1JKG1mZW5jZWRHRiQ2JC1GLDYlUSJhRidGL0YyL0YzUSdub3JtYWxGJy1JI21vR0YkNi1RKSZlcXVhbHM7RidGOy8lJmZlbmNlR1EmZmFsc2VGJy8lKnNlcGFyYXRvckdGQy8lKXN0cmV0Y2h5R0ZDLyUqc3ltbWV0cmljR0ZDLyUobGFyZ2VvcEdGQy8lLm1vdmFibGVsaW1pdHNHRkMvJSdhY2NlbnRHRkMvJSdsc3BhY2VHUSwwLjI3Nzc3NzhlbUYnLyUncnNwYWNlR0ZSLUYsNiVRImJGJ0YvRjJGOw==, 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: a and b form a 2-cycle (not an attractor). The possibilities with LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiYUYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy9GM1Enbm9ybWFsRic= or LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiYkYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy9GM1Enbm9ybWFsRic= infinite are: 5) 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 basin is the whole real line 6) 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 LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiYkYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy9GM1Enbm9ybWFsRic= is a fixed point (not an attractor) 7) 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LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiYUYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy9GM1Enbm9ybWFsRic= is a fixed point (not an attractor) Another fixed point, or a point mapped to another fixed point, or a 2-cycle, can't be in the immediate basin of attraction. So here's a way to find the immediate basin of attraction of an attracting fixed point p: 1) Find non-attracting fixed points, points mapped to those fixed points, and 2-cycles 2) The closest of these to p on either side of p (if any) are the boundary points of the immediate basin of attraction. If there are none on one side, the basin extends to infinity on that side. For example: find the immediate basin of attraction of 0 for 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. g:= x -> x/2 - x^3 + x^4 ; fps:= fsolve(g(x)=x); fsolve(g(g(x))=x); No two-cycles here, just another fixed point (which can't be an attractor). b:= fps[2]; fsolve(g(x)=b); a:= %[1]; I'll make an animation for this one, with LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEieEYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy9GM1Enbm9ybWFsRic= going from -2 to 2 and LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEieUYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy9GM1Enbm9ybWFsRic= from -2 to 3. animate(staircase,[x0,-2,2,3],x0=-2..2,frames=100,view=[-2..2,-2..3]);

JSFH Consider Newton's method, say for this function from Lessons 5 and 6: f := x -> sin(x) - x/Pi; We defined Newton's method as the iteration of the function newt: newt:= x -> x - f(x)/D(f)(x); g:= newt; The solutions of 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 are the fixed points of newt. In this case there were three of them, approximately -2.313734132, 0 and 2.313734132. These are all attractors for newt. But we saw if we started at a point that wasn't close to one of these, we could wander all over the place before eventually settling down and approaching a fixed point (and it's not at all clear that we ever would settle down). Now I want to find the immediate basin of attraction of one of the fixed points, say 2.313734132. A few things to notice: If there's more than one solution to 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, the basin won't be the whole real line. There's also the potential complication that newt is not continuous: it's not defined at points where 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, and such points can exist. As x approaches such a point (which is not a solution of 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) from one side or the other, LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2Ji1GLDYlUSVuZXd0RicvJSdpdGFsaWNHUSV0cnVlRicvJSxtYXRodmFyaWFudEdRJ2l0YWxpY0YnLUkjbW9HRiQ2LVEwJkFwcGx5RnVuY3Rpb247RicvRjhRJ25vcm1hbEYnLyUmZmVuY2VHUSZmYWxzZUYnLyUqc2VwYXJhdG9yR0ZCLyUpc3RyZXRjaHlHRkIvJSpzeW1tZXRyaWNHRkIvJShsYXJnZW9wR0ZCLyUubW92YWJsZWxpbWl0c0dGQi8lJ2FjY2VudEdGQi8lJ2xzcGFjZUdRJjAuMGVtRicvJSdyc3BhY2VHRlEtSShtZmVuY2VkR0YkNiQtRiw2JVEieEYnRjRGN0Y+Rj5GK0Y+ will go to LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEoJmluZmluO0YnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EmZmFsc2VGJy8lLG1hdGh2YXJpYW50R1Enbm9ybWFsRidGMg== or LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2JS1JI21vR0YkNi1RKCZtaW51cztGJy8lLG1hdGh2YXJpYW50R1Enbm9ybWFsRicvJSZmZW5jZUdRJmZhbHNlRicvJSpzZXBhcmF0b3JHRjovJSlzdHJldGNoeUdGOi8lKnN5bW1ldHJpY0dGOi8lKGxhcmdlb3BHRjovJS5tb3ZhYmxlbGltaXRzR0Y6LyUnYWNjZW50R0Y6LyUnbHNwYWNlR1EsMC4yMjIyMjIyZW1GJy8lJ3JzcGFjZUdGSS1GLDYlUSgmaW5maW47RicvJSdpdGFsaWNHRjpGNUY1RitGNQ==. The situation where an endpoint was a repelling fixed point, or mapped into a repelling fixed point, won't happen here: every fixed point of newt is a solution of 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, and those are attracting fixed points. The other situation, where the endpoints form a repelling 2-cycle, can happen. JSFH Thus the possibilities for the immediate basin of attraction of a solution p are as follows: 1) 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, LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiYkYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy1JI21vR0YkNi1RKSZlcXVhbHM7RicvRjNRJ25vcm1hbEYnLyUmZmVuY2VHUSZmYWxzZUYnLyUqc2VwYXJhdG9yR0Y9LyUpc3RyZXRjaHlHRj0vJSpzeW1tZXRyaWNHRj0vJShsYXJnZW9wR0Y9LyUubW92YWJsZWxpbWl0c0dGPS8lJ2FjY2VudEdGPS8lJ2xzcGFjZUdRLDAuMjc3Nzc3OGVtRicvJSdyc3BhY2VHRkwtRjY2LVEoJmluZmluO0YnRjlGO0Y+RkBGQkZERkZGSC9GS1EmMC4wZW1GJy9GTkZTRjk= (if p is the only real solution to f(x) = 0) 2) 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, 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, where 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 3) LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2Ji1GLDYlUSJiRicvJSdpdGFsaWNHUSV0cnVlRicvJSxtYXRodmFyaWFudEdRJ2l0YWxpY0YnLUkjbW9HRiQ2LVEpJmVxdWFscztGJy9GOFEnbm9ybWFsRicvJSZmZW5jZUdRJmZhbHNlRicvJSpzZXBhcmF0b3JHRkIvJSlzdHJldGNoeUdGQi8lKnN5bW1ldHJpY0dGQi8lKGxhcmdlb3BHRkIvJS5tb3ZhYmxlbGltaXRzR0ZCLyUnYWNjZW50R0ZCLyUnbHNwYWNlR1EsMC4yNzc3Nzc4ZW1GJy8lJ3JzcGFjZUdGUS1GLDYlUSgmaW5maW47RicvRjVGQkY+Rj5GK0Y+, 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, where 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 4) A 2-cycle: 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, 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. animate(staircase,[x0,1,5,3],x0=1..5,frames=100,view=[1..5,0..5]); We see that the endpoints of the immediate basin should be a 2-cycle, with one point approximately 1.4, the other about 4.2. a:= fsolve(newt(newt(x))=x,x=1.3 .. 1.5); b:= fsolve(newt(newt(x))=x, x=4.1 .. 4.3); evalf(newt(a) = b); evalf(newt(b)= a); staircase(a, 1.2, 4.5, 3); I'd better use the view option: the graph of newt(x) has a vertical asymptote. display(%,view=[1.2 .. 4.5, 0..5]);

We saw that when the equation LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYnLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiZkYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy1JKG1mZW5jZWRHRiQ2JC1GIzYkLUYsNiVRInhGJ0YvRjIvRjNRJ25vcm1hbEYnRj0tSSNtb0dGJDYtUSI9RidGPS8lJmZlbmNlR1EmZmFsc2VGJy8lKnNlcGFyYXRvckdGRS8lKXN0cmV0Y2h5R0ZFLyUqc3ltbWV0cmljR0ZFLyUobGFyZ2VvcEdGRS8lLm1vdmFibGVsaW1pdHNHRkUvJSdhY2NlbnRHRkUvJSdsc3BhY2VHUSwwLjI3Nzc3NzhlbUYnLyUncnNwYWNlR0ZULUkjbW5HRiQ2JFEiMEYnRj1GPQ== has a solution p with 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, Newton's method converges very quickly (for an appropriate starting point), because 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. When LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYqLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiZkYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy1JI21vR0YkNi1RIidGJy9GM1Enbm9ybWFsRicvJSZmZW5jZUdRJmZhbHNlRicvJSpzZXBhcmF0b3JHRj0vJSlzdHJldGNoeUdGPS8lKnN5bW1ldHJpY0dGPS8lKGxhcmdlb3BHRj0vJS5tb3ZhYmxlbGltaXRzR0Y9LyUnYWNjZW50R0Y9LyUnbHNwYWNlR1EsMC4xMTExMTExZW1GJy8lJ3JzcGFjZUdRJjAuMGVtRictSShtZmVuY2VkR0YkNiQtRiM2JC1GLDYlUSJwRidGL0YyRjlGOS1GNjYtUSJ+RidGOUY7Rj5GQEZCRkRGRkZIL0ZLRk9GTS1GNjYtUSI9RidGOUY7Rj5GQEZCRkRGRkZIL0ZLUSwwLjI3Nzc3NzhlbUYnL0ZORmpuRlgtSSNtbkdGJDYkUSIwRidGOUY5, on the other hand, convergence is slower, as you will see in an example in the second homework. Let's investigate what happens in such a case. Suppose 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 and 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. For most of the functions we meet (analytic functions), unless 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 in an interval around p, there will be some derivative of f that is not 0 at p. Typically we can write 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 where LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYoLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEibUYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy1JI21vR0YkNi1RIn5GJy9GM1Enbm9ybWFsRicvJSZmZW5jZUdRJmZhbHNlRicvJSpzZXBhcmF0b3JHRj0vJSlzdHJldGNoeUdGPS8lKnN5bW1ldHJpY0dGPS8lKGxhcmdlb3BHRj0vJS5tb3ZhYmxlbGltaXRzR0Y9LyUnYWNjZW50R0Y9LyUnbHNwYWNlR1EmMC4wZW1GJy8lJ3JzcGFjZUdGTC1GNjYtUS8mR3JlYXRlckVxdWFsO0YnRjlGO0Y+RkBGQkZERkZGSC9GS1EsMC4yNzc3Nzc4ZW1GJy9GTkZTRjUtSSNtbkdGJDYkUSIyRidGOUY5 and 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, and then all derivatives up to the (m-1)'th will be 0, but 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. What would happen to Newton's method? For convenience I'll take p = 0. f:= x -> x^m * h(x); newt:= x -> x - f(x)/D(f)(x); newt(x); D(newt)(0); I should have expected the error: we are asking Maple to divide by 0. D(newt)(x); However, this can be simplified. The normal command does ordinary algebraic simplification, such as putting everything over a common denominator and cancelling common factors from numerator and denominator. normal(%); After this simplification we shouldn't have troubles with 0 in the denominator. eval(%,x=0); But this can be simplified some more. normal(%); Since LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYoLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEibUYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy1JI21vR0YkNi1RIn5GJy9GM1Enbm9ybWFsRicvJSZmZW5jZUdRJmZhbHNlRicvJSpzZXBhcmF0b3JHRj0vJSlzdHJldGNoeUdGPS8lKnN5bW1ldHJpY0dGPS8lKGxhcmdlb3BHRj0vJS5tb3ZhYmxlbGltaXRzR0Y9LyUnYWNjZW50R0Y9LyUnbHNwYWNlR1EmMC4wZW1GJy8lJ3JzcGFjZUdGTC1GNjYtUS8mR3JlYXRlckVxdWFsO0YnRjlGO0Y+RkBGQkZERkZGSC9GS1EsMC4yNzc3Nzc4ZW1GJy9GTkZTRjUtSSNtbkdGJDYkUSIyRidGOUY5, this is greater than 0 but less than 1. That means that the solution p is an attractor for Newton's method, but the convergence is only linear, not quadratic: i.e. 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 is approximately 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 rather than a constant times LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYjLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRic=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 Moreover, if m is large the factor 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 is close to 1, so convergence will be rather slow.

Some on-line references for discrete dynamical systems: Notes by Sebastien Guenneau, University of Liverpool <http://www.maths.liv.ac.uk/~guenneau/1Ddiscrete.pdf > Notes by Pei Yu, University of Western Ontario <http://pyu1.apmaths.uwo.ca/~pyu/pub/courses/am303b/notes/ch4.ps > First 22 pages of A First Course in Dynamics by Boris Hasselblatt and Anatole Katok <http://assets.cambridge.org/052158/3047/sample/0521583047ws.pdf >

JSFH Underneath all the bells and whistles, much of what Maple does is concerned with polynomials and rational functions, so I think it's a good idea to take a good look at those, both from a theoretical point of view and from the Maple point of view. We'll start with polynomials. A polynomial in one variable (or indeterminate) x is an expression of the form LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2JkYrLUYjNihGKy1GIzYoLUkrbXVuZGVyb3ZlckdGJDYnLUkjbW9HRiQ2L1EmJlN1bTtGJy8lK2ZvcmVncm91bmRHUS5bMTQ0LDE0NCwxNDRdRicvJSxtYXRodmFyaWFudEdRJ25vcm1hbEYnL0krbXNlbWFudGljc0dGJFEmaW5lcnRGJy8lJmZlbmNlR1EmZmFsc2VGJy8lKnNlcGFyYXRvckdGRy8lKXN0cmV0Y2h5R1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUqc3ltbWV0cmljR0ZHLyUobGFyZ2VvcEdGTC8lLm1vdmFibGVsaW1pdHNHRkwvJSdhY2NlbnRHRkcvJSdsc3BhY2VHUSYwLjBlbUYnLyUncnNwYWNlR1EsMC4xNjY2NjY3ZW1GJy1GIzYmLUYsNiVRImpGJy8lJ2l0YWxpY0dGTC9GQFEnaXRhbGljRictRjk2LVEiPUYnRj9GRUZIL0ZLRkdGTS9GUEZHL0ZSRkdGUy9GVlEsMC4yNzc3Nzc4ZW1GJy9GWUZlby1JI21uR0YkNiRRIjBGJ0Y/Rj8tRiw2JVEibkYnRmpuRlxvRlMvJSxhY2NlbnR1bmRlckdGR0YrLUknbXNwYWNlR0YkNiYvJSdoZWlnaHRHUSYwLjBleEYnLyUmd2lkdGhHUSQ1LjBGJy8lJmRlcHRoR0ZlcC8lKmxpbmVicmVha0dRJWF1dG9GJy1GIzYmLUklbXN1YkdGJDYlLUYsNiVRImFGJ0ZqbkZcby1GIzYkRmduRj8vJS9zdWJzY3JpcHRzaGlmdEdGam8tRjk2LVExJkludmlzaWJsZVRpbWVzO0YnRj9GRUZIRmFvRk1GYm9GY29GU0ZVL0ZZRlctSSVtc3VwR0YkNiUtRiw2JVEieEYnRmpuRlxvRmduLyUxc3VwZXJzY3JpcHRzaGlmdEdGam9GP0YrRj9GXm8tRiM2LS1GYXE2JUZjcS1GIzYkRmdvRj9GaHEtRjk2LVEiK0YnRj9GRUZIRmFvRk1GYm9GY29GUy9GVlEsMC4yMjIyMjIyZW1GJy9GWUZgcy1GIzYmLUZhcTYlRmNxLUYjNiQtRmhvNiRRIjFGJ0Y/Rj9GaHFGanFGYXJGP0Zccy1GLDYlUSQuLi5GJ0ZqbkZcb0Zccy1GIzYmLUZhcTYlRmNxLUYjNiZGKy1GIzYmRltwLUY5Ni1RKCZtaW51cztGJ0Y/RkVGSEZhb0ZNRmJvRmNvRlNGX3NGYXNGaHNGP0YrRj9GaHFGanEtRl9yNiVGYXJGZHRGZHJGP0Zccy1GIzYmLUZhcTYlRmNxLUYjNiRGW3BGP0ZocUZqcS1GX3I2JUZhckZbcEZkckY/RitGP0YrRj9GK0Y/RitGPw==, where n is a nonnegative integer. The LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYkLUklbXN1YkdGJDYlLUkjbWlHRiQ2JVEiYUYnLyUnaXRhbGljR1EldHJ1ZUYnLyUsbWF0aHZhcmlhbnRHUSdpdGFsaWNGJy1GIzYkLUYvNiVRImpGJ0YyRjUvRjZRJ25vcm1hbEYnLyUvc3Vic2NyaXB0c2hpZnRHUSIwRidGPQ== are called coefficients. When writing it we generally leave out terms with coefficient 0. The term with the highest power of x and a nonzero coefficient is called the leading term: if this is 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, its coefficient LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2JC1JJW1zdWJHRiQ2JS1GLDYlUSJhRicvJSdpdGFsaWNHUSV0cnVlRicvJSxtYXRodmFyaWFudEdRJ2l0YWxpY0YnLUYjNiQtRiw2JVEibkYnRjdGOi9GO1Enbm9ybWFsRicvJS9zdWJzY3JpcHRzaGlmdEdRIjBGJ0ZCRitGQg== is the leading coefficient, and the exponent n is the degree of the polynomial. Here's a typical polynomial in Maple: P := 3 + x^2 + 2*x^3; degree(P); The coefficients in this case are integers, but they don't have to be. Usually they will be numbers of some sort, but sometimes, as we'll see, they can be more complicated things, which might depend on other variables. The most basic requirement is that you can do addition and multiplication and division in the usual way with the coefficients: technically, they are members of a field. If there's more than one name in the polynomial, and you want the degree, you'd need to tell degree what you're considering as the variable for this purpose. degree(x^2 + y*x, x); Constants are polynomials too: if nonzero, they have degree 0. degree(2); The polynomial 0 is rather special (it has no nonzero coefficients, so no leading term). We consider it to have degree LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2JkYrLUYjNiUtSSNtb0dGJDYtUSomdW1pbnVzMDtGJy8lLG1hdGh2YXJpYW50R1Enbm9ybWFsRicvJSZmZW5jZUdRJmZhbHNlRicvJSpzZXBhcmF0b3JHRjwvJSlzdHJldGNoeUdGPC8lKnN5bW1ldHJpY0dGPC8lKGxhcmdlb3BHRjwvJS5tb3ZhYmxlbGltaXRzR0Y8LyUnYWNjZW50R0Y8LyUnbHNwYWNlR1EsMC4yMjIyMjIyZW1GJy8lJ3JzcGFjZUdGSy1GLDYlUSgmIzg3MzQ7RicvJSdpdGFsaWNHUSV0cnVlRicvRjhRJ2l0YWxpY0YnRjdGK0Y3RitGNw==. degree(0); In high school you learned (I hope) how to do the usual algebraic operations, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division on polynomials. It's no surprise that Maple can do these too. Q:= P + (3 - x); Notice that Maple doesn't care about the order of the terms of this polynomial. If you do care, you can ask Maple to sort the terms in either ascending or descending order of the powers of x. The default is descending. sort(Q); sort(Q,x,ascending); The sort command is unusual in that it actually changes its polynomial input, rather than just returning a value. Q; Next, let's multiply. P*Q; Notice that Maple didn't automatically expand out the product. For some purposes you might want to keep a polynomial in a factored form, rather than expanded. Maple lets you have it whichever way you want. The expand command will expand it out. expand(P*Q); Similarly, with a power: P^3; expand(%); For division: %/P; It should be possible to simplify this, since the denominator P should be a factor of the numerator. Maple doesn't try to do that unless you tell it to. The normal command will cancel common factors from numerator and denominator. normal(%); If the numerator isn't divisible by the denominator, the result of division, even after using normal, will be a rational function, that is a fraction whose numerator and denominator are polynomials. normal(P/(x^2+1)); There's another kind of division of polynomials: division with remainder. This is done in Maple by the commands quo (for quotient) and rem (for remainder). You have to tell these the two polynomials and the name of the variable. Q:= quo(P,x^2+1,x); R:= rem(P,x^2+1,x); Here's what these do. Given any two polynomials A and B, where B is not the 0 polynomial, Q = quo(A,B,x) and R = rem(A,B,x) are polynomials such that 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 and the degree of R is less than the degree of B. P = expand((x^2+1)*Q + R); Factoring is another important operation on polynomials. The Fundamental Theorem of Algebra says that a polynomial of degree n in one variable x (with coefficients that are complex numbers) can be written as 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 where the complex numbers 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 are the roots of the polynomial. Some roots may be present more than once: these are called repeated roots. The number of times a root appears is called its multiplicity. Maple has a factor command to factor polynomials, but usually it doesn't do this kind of complete factorization. If the coefficients of the polynomial are rational numbers, it will just find factors with coefficients that are rational numbers. For example: P:= 4*x^4 -4*x^2 +12*x - 9; factor(P); To factor completely into linear factors, you can say factor(P, complex); Notice that the roots LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYmLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRictRiM2JC1JJW1zdWJHRiQ2JS1GLDYlUSJyRicvJSdpdGFsaWNHUSV0cnVlRicvJSxtYXRodmFyaWFudEdRJ2l0YWxpY0YnLUYjNiQtRiw2JVEiakYnRjdGOi9GO1Enbm9ybWFsRicvJS9zdWJzY3JpcHRzaGlmdEdRIjBGJ0ZCRitGQg== are given as (approximate) floating-point numbers. You could also ask for a factorization over the real numbers: factor(P, real); This gives you factors where all the coefficients are real: they may be linear factors, or quadratics whose roots are not real.

LUklbXJvd0c2Iy9JK21vZHVsZW5hbWVHNiJJLFR5cGVzZXR0aW5nR0koX3N5c2xpYkdGJzYjLUkjbWlHRiQ2I1EhRic= normal degree sort ascending (option to sort) expand quo rem factor JSFH

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