Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
An asymptotically unstable solution to a differential equation is one where small deviations grow without bound as time progresses. This behavior indicates that the system will diverge from equilibrium over time.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
An asymptotically unstable solution implies that the equilibrium point is a source in a direction field.
Such solutions are characterized by eigenvalues with positive real parts in linear systems.
Numerical methods may struggle to accurately predict long-term behavior for these solutions due to divergence.
In nonlinear systems, asymptotic instability can be identified using Lyapunov's indirect method.
Asymptotically unstable solutions are often contrasted with stable and neutrally stable solutions in differential equation analysis.
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Related terms
Asymptotically Stable Solution: A solution that approaches an equilibrium point as time goes to infinity.
Direction Field: A graphical representation showing the slope of the solution curves at given points for a differential equation.
Lyapunov Function: A scalar function used to prove stability properties of equilibrium points in dynamical systems.