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Differential EquationsSuperchallengeSystems of Differential Equations

Systems of Differential Equations · Superchallenge problem

A point moves in the plane under one of two linear systems, switching every π4\tfrac{\pi}{4} time units: on [0,π4)\big[0,\tfrac{\pi}{4}\big) it obeys x′=y, y′=−4xx'=y,\ y'=-4x; on [π4,π2)\big[\tfrac{\pi}{4},\tfrac{\pi}{2}\big) it obeys x′=4y, y′=−xx'=4y,\ y'=-x; and this pattern repeats with period π2\tfrac{\pi}{2}. Each system on its own has only closed (periodic) orbits. The point starts at (1,0)(1,0) at t=0t=0. Find x(2π)x(2\pi).