Problem Set #3 – Basic Computations in DDS’s

Mathematics 302—Chaos Theory

Dr. Peratt

Directions: Please complete the following exercises. You may confer with one another on
strategy, but the spirit of the assignment is that you each learn the material and ultimately
write up your own solutions.

1. For each of the following functions, compute f 2 (x) and f 3 (x).

1.1 f (x) = 3x + 2
1.2 f (x) = x2 − 2
1.3 f (x) = x3 − 3x
1.4 f (x) = 3x(1 − x)
2−x
1.5 f (x) =
10
1.6 f (x) = x − 2x2 + 2
4

1
1.7 f (x) = 2 .
x
2. For each of the following functions:
(a) Write the recursive form of the DDS defined by the function.
(b) Write the first 5 iterates on the orbit of: (1) x0 = 0.8, and (2) x0 = 3.2.
(c) Find all fixed points algebraically.
(d) Use the Fixed Point Theorem to classify each fixed point as attracting, repelling, or
neutral.
(e) Print out a graph of the function along with the line y = x, and illustrate the nature of
the fixed points with a cobwebbing analysis.

2.1 f (x) = x2 − 12 x
2.2 f (x) = x(1 − x)
2.3 f (x) = 3x(1 − x)
2−x
2.4 f (x) =
10
2.5 f (x) = x − 2x2 + 2
4

π
2.6 f (x) = sin x
2
2.7 f (x) = − sin x
2.8 f (x) = x3 − 3x
2.9 f (x) = arctanx
1
2x if x ≤
!
2
2.10 f (x) = 1
2 − 2x if x > 2
1
2.11 f (x) = 2 .
x 1
3. For each of the following functions, x0 = 0 lies on a periodic orbit.

(a) Calculate that orbit.

(b) Classify the orbit as attracting, repelling, or neutral by using the Fixed Point Theorem.
(c) Use the Cobwebbing feature on Desmos1 to show the orbit of x0 = 0.
(d) Use the Cobwebbing feature on Desmos with a value of x0 ̸ = 0 that demostrates the
nature of the periodic orbit as attracting, repelling, or neutral.
(e) Use the Cobwebbing feature on Desmos with f m (x), where m is the period of the orbit,
to demonstrate the nature of the periodic orbit as attracting, repelling, or neutral.

3.1 f (x) = 1 − x2
3.2 f (x) = π
2
cos x
3.3 f (x) = − 12 x3 − 23 x2 + 1
3.4 f (x) = |x − 2| − 1
4
3.5 f (x) = − arctan(x + 1)
π
4. Each of the following functions has a neutral fixed point. Find this fixed point and, us-
ing graphical analysis with an accurate graph, determine if it is weakly attracting, weakly
repelling, or neither (semi-stable).

(a) f (x) = x + x2
1
(b) f (x) =
x
(c) f (x) = ex−1
(d) f (x) = sin x
(e) f (x) = tan x
(f) f (x) = x + x3
(g) f (x) = x − x3
(h) f (x) = −x + x3
(i) f (x) = −x − x3

5. Practice with Graphical Nature of Neutral Fixed Points:

(a) Sketch the graph of a function f (x) which has a weakly attracting fixed point at x = 2.
(b) Sketch the graph of a function f (x) which has a weakly repelling fixed point at x = 2.
(c) Sketch the graph of a function f (x) which has a semi-stable point at x = 2 that attracts
from the left and repels from the right.
(d) Sketch the graph of a function f (x) which has a semi-stable point at x = 2 that attracts
from the right and repels from the left.
(e) Determine a computable condition on a function f (x) that will ensure that it has a
weakly attracting point at x = p.
1
Go to https://www.desmos.com/calculator/unan9xh0og or simply Google “cobwebbing Desmos”

2
(f) Determine a computable condition on a function f (x) that will ensure that it has a
weakly repelling point at x = p.
(g) Determine a computable condition on a function f (x) that will ensure that it has a
semi-stable point at x = p that attracts from the left and repels from the right.
(h) Determine a computable condition on a function f (x) that will ensure that it has a
semi-stable point at x = p that attracts from the right and repels from the left.