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Solutions of period four for a non-linear difference equation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 February 2009

A. Brown
Affiliation:
Department of Theoretical Physics, Research School of Physical Sciences, Australian National University, G.P.O. Box 4, Canberra, A.C.T. 2601.
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Abstract

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The paper extends earlier work by using the factorisation method to discuss solutions of period four for the difference equation

This equation was suggested by R. M. May as a simple mathematical model for the effect of frequency-dependent selection in genetics. It is shown that for a given value of the parameter, a, the identification of solutions of period four can be reduced to finding real roots for a polynomial equation of degree eight. The appropriate values of xn follow from a quartic equation. By splitting up the problem in this way it becomes relatively straightforward to determine the critical values of a at which the various solutions of period four first appear and to discuss the stability of these solutions. Intervals of stability are tabulated in the paper.

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Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Australian Mathematical Society 1984