q4 an application of diagonalization suppose we have a population of p
Question
Q4. An application of diagonalization. Suppose we have a population of predators and preys, say
geese and UW undergrads. Let
Since geese prey on undergrads, the population of geese will grow if there are undergrads
around. Conversely, the population of undergrads will be negatively impacted by the popu-
lation of geese. Let's model this using the following (very simple-minded) relationships:
u(n) = the number of undergrads on day n,
g(n) = the number of geese on day n.
Let's write (m) = =
These relationships give us the population sizes on day n+1 in terms of the population sizes
on day n. This is an example of a system of time-evolution equations. Our goal now is to
solve this system to obtain the population sizes u(m) and g(m) at an arbitrary day m.
We can model our system in matrix form as
Notice that
u(n + 1) = u(n) - 2g(n)
g(n+1)u(n) + 4g(n).
[u(m)]
Lg(m
[u(n+1)]
[g(n+
and A
=
=
[u(n)]
(1
(n+1) = A(n).
so that the above equation takes the form
(n+1) = A (n) = A² (n − 1) = ... = A+¹7(0),
where (0) is the vector containing the initial population sizes u(0) and g(0). So in order
to determine x(m), we would have to compute A" which doesn't seem like a very pleasant
task. Below you will see how diagonalization sidesteps this issue./n(a) Diagonalize A, obtaining a diagonal matrix D and an invertible matrix P such that
A = PDP-¹.
(b) Show that if we put y(n) = P¹7(n) then the system 7(n+1) = A7(n) is transformed
into the system (n + 1) = Dy(n).
(c) Show that y(m) = Dmy(0), and actually compute D™ explicitly.
(d) Suppose that u(0) = 10 and g(0) = 6, so that 7(0) = [16]
Determine closed-form
expressions for u(m) and g(m). [Hint: Find (0) and then use it to find 7(m).]