# The Stability Cone for a Matrix Delay Difference Equation

Authors: M. M. Kipnis; V. V. Malygina
Journal: International Journal of Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences
 (2011)

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## Abstract

We construct a stability cone, which allows us to analyze the stability of the
matrix delay difference equationxn=Axn−1+Bxn−k. We assume that A and B are
m×m simultaneously triangularizable matrices. We construct m points in ℝ3 which are
functions of eigenvalues of matrices A,  B such that the equation is asymptotically stable
if and only if all the points lie inside the stability cone.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Parameters of linear systems are subject to time changes. That is why in order to construct such systems it is desirable to know if they are not only stable but also able to estimate the distance of the system from the boundary of the stability region in the parameter space. Therefore, it makes sense to investigate the geometry of the subset of stable polynomials in the space of characteristic polynomials of linear systems (in thecanonical space [1]). This idea has already been applied to the investigation of geometry of the subset of stable polynomials in a two-dimensional subspace of the canonical space [2, 3], the stability simplex for general difference equations [4], connections of the convexity of the coefficients sequence with stability of difference equations [5], and stability ovals for matrix difference equations of the form xn=xn-1+Bxn-k with the delay k [6].Consider the matrix equation(1.1)xn=Axn-1+Bxn-k,n=0,1,2…,
where k∈ℤ+ is the delay. Equations of the form (1.1) have been used for investigations of a delayed discrete-time Hopfield neural network [7, 8]. The suitable representation of the solution of (1.1) with commutative matrices A,B and nonsingular A is given in [9]. But [9] does not solve the stability problems of (1.1). The stability of (1.1) was investigated in [7, 8, 10, 11] with special 2×2 matrices A,B. In [12], the stability of (1.1) was investigated without any restriction on the dimension but with the special matrix A=αI, α∈ℝ, 0⩽α⩽1, where I is the identity matrix.In this paper we give a geometric solution to the problem of asymptotic stability of (1.1) in any dimension with simultaneously triangularizable matrices A,B. It is known that commuting matrices are simultaneously triangularizable [13]. As usual, we say that (1.1) is stable if its zero solution is stable. Our solution is based on constructing the stability ovals which, in turn, form a stability cone. At the same time we give an algorithm for checking the stability of the scalar equation(1.2)xn=axn-1+bxn-k,n=0,1,2…
with complex coefficients a,b.The paper is organized as follows. In the second section, we recall the results on the stability of the scalar equation (1.2) with real nonnegative a and any real b [14, 15]. Further in that section we construct the stability oval for (1.2) with real nonnegative coefficient a and complex coefficient b. In Section 3, we consider a wider class of equations of the form (1.2) with a,b being complex numbers. In Section 4, we state a system of inequalities allowing us to check the stability of the scalar equation (1.2) with two complex coefficients. In Section 5, we give a geometrical criterion for the asymptotic stability of matrix equation (1.1) with simultaneously triangularizable matrices. Besides, we establish nongeometric necessary and sufficient conditions for the stability of matrix equation (1.1) in terms of inequalities. In Section 6, we use the stability ovals and cones for analysis of some numerical examples.


## 2. The Stability Oval for (1.2) with Real Nonnegative a and Complex b

We start by stating the results from [14, 15] in the form which is suitable for us. Since the case k=1 is obvious, we consider only the case k>1.Theorem 2.1 (see [14, 15]).
In (1.2) let  a and  b be real,  a⩾0,  k>1. (1)
Ifa⩾k/(k-1), then (1.2) is unstable.(2)
If0⩽a<k/(k-1), then (1.2) is asymptotically stable if and only if
(2.1)-a2+1-2acos⁡ω1<b<1-a,
where ω1∈[0,π/k] is the root of the equation(2.2)a=sinkωsin(k-1)ω.Stability region of (1.2) is shown in Figure 1.Figure 1
The domain of asymptotic stability of (1.2), a⩾0, k=6.Our first new result about the case of nonnegative reala and complex b in (1.2) is the following.Theorem 2.2.
Leta⩾0 be a real number and  b a complex number,  k>1. (1)
Ifa⩾k/(k-1), then (1.2) is unstable.(2)
If0⩽a<k/(k-1), then (1.2) is asymptotically stable if and only if b lies inside the oval bounded by
(2.3)b=exp⁡(ikω)-aexp⁡(i(k-1)ω),-ω1⩽ω⩽ω1,
where ω1∈[0,π/k] is the root of (2.2).(3)
If0⩽a<k/(k-1) and b is outside of the stability oval (2.3), then (1.2) is unstable.(4)
If0⩽a<k/(k-1) and b lies on the boundary (2.3) of the stability oval, then (1.2) is stable (nonasymptotically).Proof.
We will use theD-decomposition method (parameter plane method) [16, 17]. A characteristic polynomial for (1.2) is the following:
(2.4)f(z)=zk-azk-1-b.
For any fixed value of a, the complex plane of the parameter b is divided into some regions by a curve f(exp(iω))=0, that is,
(2.5)exp⁡(ikω)-aexp⁡(i(k-1)ω)-b=0,-π⩽ω⩽π.
Hence, D-decomposition occurs in the plane of the complex parameter b by means of a curve
(2.6)b(ω)=exp⁡(ikω)-aexp⁡(i(k-1)ω),-π⩽ω⩽π.
The example of the D-decomposition for k=6, a=0.7 is shown in Figure 2. From (2.6) we obtain
(2.7)|b(ω)|2=1+a2-2acos⁡ω.
Therefore, |b| increases monotonically when ω runs from 0 to π. Similarly, |b| increases monotonically when ω runs from 0 to (-π). Let us construct an increasing sequence (ωi)i=0r of all values ω∈[0,π], such that Im(b(ωi))=Im(b(-ωi))=0. Here 1⩽r⩽k, ω0=0, ωr=π. Each pair of the curves (2.6) formed by motion ω on intervals [ωi,ωi+1], [-ωi+1,-ωi] creates a new region of D-decomposition of the complex plane of parameter b. This region necessarily contains some real values of b as the function |b(ω)| is monotone on [0,π] and on [-π,0]. Due to the properties of the regions, if some inner point of this region is an asymptotically stable point, then the whole region consists of asymptotically stable points. If a⩾k/(k-1), then according to Theorem 2.1 there are no stable points on the axis Im(b)=0. Hence, there are no stable points on the complex plane of parameter b. Let now a<k/(k-1). Let ω1∈[0,π/k] be the root of (2.2). Then the unique D-decomposition region containing the real straight line segment (2.1) is the oval with the boundary (2.3). Parts 1–3 of Theorem 2.2 are proved. Direct checking shows that the derivative of a characteristic polynomial (2.4) is not equal to zero on the boundary of the stability oval. Therefore, when the parameter b runs along the boundary of the stability oval, all the corresponding roots z of the characteristic equation, satisfying |z|=1, are simple. Hence, (1.2) is stable (nonasymptotically). Theorem 2.2 is proved.Figure 2
D-decomposition of the complex plane of the parameter b for k=6, a=0.7.Example 2.3.
Letk=6 and, also, (1) a=0.2, (2) a=0.75, and (3) a=1.1. Let b=0.33exp(iα), 0⩽α<2π. Let us analyze the asymptotic behavior of the solutions of (1.2) for all values of α. We construct three stability ovals for three values of a and also the circle b=0.33exp(iα) (Figure 3). Theorem 2.2 and Figure 3 give the following result. (1) For a=0.2, the equation is asymptotically stable for any value of α. (2) For a=0.75, the equation is asymptotically stable for 2.0918≅α0<α<2π-α0≅4.1914, it is unstable for α∉[α0,2π-α0], and it is stable (nonasymptotically) for α=α0 and α=2π-α0. (3) Finally, for a=1.1, the equation is unstable for any value of α.Figure 3
Stability ovals fork=6,a=0.2,anda=0.75;a=1.1. A circle b=0.33exp(iα) and a beam b=rexp(i19π/20) are constructed for Examples 2.3 and 2.4.Example 2.4.
Letk=6 and, also, (1) a=0.2, (2) a=0.75, and (3) a=1.1. Let b=rexp(i19π/20), r⩾0. Let us find the asymptotic behavior of (1.2) for all values of r. We construct the beam b=rexp(i19π/20) together with three stability ovals (Figure 3). Theorem 2.2 and Figure 3 give the following result. (1)
Fora=0.2, the equation is asymptotically stable for 0⩽r<r1≅0.8276, it is unstable for r>r1, and it is stable (nonasymptotically) for r=r1.(2)
Fora=0.75, the equation is asymptotically stable for 0⩽r<r2≅0.4080, it is unstable for r>r2, and it is stable (nonasymptotically) for r=r2.(3)
Finally, fora=1.1, the equation is stable for 0.1063≅r31<r<r32≅0.1944, it is unstable for r∉[r31,r32], and it is stable (nonasymptotically) for r=r31, r=r32.


## 3. The Stability Cone for (1.2) with Complex Coefficients

The family of stability ovals depending ona∈k/(k-1) forms a surface which we call the stability cone.Definition 3.1.
The stability cone for delaykis a surface in a three-dimensional space(Re(b),Im(b),z)with0⩽z⩽k/(k-1), such that its intersection with any planez=a(0⩽a⩽k/(k-1))is the stability oval(2.3).The stability cone is the image of the two-dimensional domain in the space(ω,a)(3.1)0⩽a⩽sinkωsin(k-1)ω,-πk⩽ω⩽πkunder the mapping intoℝ3 by the functions(3.2)Re(b)=cos⁡kω-acos⁡(k-1)ω,Im⁡(b)=sinkω-asin(k-1)ω,z=a.The stability cone fork=6 is presented in Figure 4.Figure 4
Stability cone fork=6. The point on the cone is constructed for Example 3.3.Let us now study the problem of the stability of scalar equation (1.2) with complex coefficients a,b. We consider the equation(3.3)xn=ρ1exp⁡(iα1)xn-1+ρ2exp⁡(iα2)xn-k,
with real nonnegative ρ1,ρ2 and real α1, α2. We set xn=ynexp(inα1). Then (3.3) becomes(3.4)yn=ρ1yn-1+ρ2exp⁡(i(α2-kα1))yn-k.
Obviously, (3.4) is stable (asymptotically stable) if and only if (3.3) is stable (asymptotically stable). The stability problem of (3.4) can be solved due to Theorem 2.2. Thus, we obtain the following theorem.Theorem 3.2.
Consider (3.3). Put
(3.5)a=ρ1,b=ρ2exp⁡(i(α2-kα1)).
Construct the point M=(Re(b),Im(b),a) in ℝ3.(1)
Equation (3.3) is asymptotically stable if and only if the point M lies inside the cone (3.2) (if a=0 and (Re(b))2+(Im(b))2<1, then the point M is assumed to be the inner point of the cone).(2)
If the pointM lies outside the cone (3.2) or on its top Re(b)=-1/(k-1),Im(b)=0,a=k/(k-1), then (3.3) is unstable.(3)
If the pointM lies on the boundary of a cone (3.2), but not on its top, then (3.3) is stable (nonasymptotically).Example 3.3.
Let us test the stability of the equation with complex coefficients(3.6)xn=σexp⁡(iπ5)xn-1+0.7exp⁡(iπ3)xn-k
with a real parameter σ and a delay k=6. Put first σ⩾0. By Theorem 3.2, according to (3.5) we calculate
(3.7)b=0.7exp⁡(i(π3-6⋅π5))=0.7exp⁡(i17π15).
The vertical line (Re(b),Im(b),σ), (0⩽σ<∞) in ℝ3 intersects the boundary of the stability cone at z=σ0≅0.3442 (Figure 4). To study the negative values of σ we rewrite (3.6):
(3.8)xn=-σexp⁡(i6π5)xn-1+0.7exp⁡(iπ3)xn-k.
By Theorem 3.2, according to (3.5) we calculate
(3.9)b=0.7exp⁡(i(π3-6⋅6π5))=0.7exp⁡(i17π15).
As the results (3.9), (3.7) coincide, we obtain the following answer: (3.6) is asymptotically stable for (-σ0)<σ<σ0≅0.3442, and it is unstable for σ∉[-σ0,σ0]. According to part 2 of Theorem 3.2 for σ=σ0 or σ=-σ0, (3.6) is stable (nonasymptotically).Example 3.4.
We test (3.6) with a real parameter σ for stability. Unlike the previous example let now the delay be odd: k=7. For positive σ by Theorem 3.2, according to (3.5) we obtain
(3.10)b=0.7exp⁡(i(π3-7⋅π5))=0.7exp⁡(i14π15).
The vertical line (Re(b),Im(b),σ) in ℝ3 intersects the boundary of the stability cone at z=σ0≅0.3377. To study the negative values of σ similarly to the previous example, we obtain
(3.11)b=0.7exp⁡(i(π3-7⋅6π5))=0.7exp⁡(i29π15).
The results (3.10), (3.11) do not coincide. For (3.11) the vertical line  (Re(b),Im(b),σ), (0⩽σ<∞) intersects the boundary of the stability cone at z=σ1≅0.3002. We obtain the following answer: (3.6) with k=7 is asymptotically stable if (-0.3002)≅-σ1<σ<σ0≅0.3377, it is unstable if σ∉[-σ1,σ0], and it is stable (nonasymptotically) for σ=σ0 or σ=-σ1.Comparison of Examples3.3 and 3.4 reveals the difference in the behavior of (3.3) for even and odd values of the delay k. Let us compare the stability of (1.1) and the following equations:(3.12)xn=-Axn-1+Bxn-k,(3.13)xn=-Axn-1-Bxn-k.
Substituting xn=(-1)nyn reduces (1.1) to(3.14)yn=-Ayn-1+(-1)kByn-k.
Equations (1.1) and (3.14) are simultaneously stable or unstable. Therefore, we have the following symmetry property of the stability region for (1.1).Theorem 3.5.
For even delaysk the (asymptotic) stability of (1.1) implies the (asymptotic) stability of  (3.12) and vice versa. For odd  k the (asymptotic) stability of (1.1) implies the (asymptotic) stability of (3.13) and vice versa.Similar properties of symmetry have been specified in [11, 15] for the scalar equation (1.2) with real a,b.


## 4. A System of Inequalities for Checking the Stability of (3.3)

In the previous sections we used some geometric procedures. In this section we construct a system of inequalities in order to check the stability of (3.3). Henceforth we assume 0⩽arg(z)<2π for a complex variable z.Theorem 4.1.
(1)
Ifρ1<1-ρ2, then (3.3) is asymptotically stable.(2)
If1-ρ2⩽ρ1<min(1+ρ2,k/(k-1)), then for the asymptotic stability of (3.3) it is necessary and sufficient to fulfill simultaneously the following conditions ((H1)), ((H2)):(H1)ρ2<ρ12+1-2ρ1cos⁡ω1,
where ω1∈[0,π/k] is the root of the equation(H2)ρ1=sinkωsin(k-1)ω,|π-arg(exp⁡(i(α2-kα1)))|<π-(k-1)arccos1+ρ12-ρ222ρ1-arccos1-ρ12-ρ222ρ1ρ2.(3)
Ifρ1⩾min(1+ρ2,k/(k-1)), then (3.3) is not asymptotically stable.Proof.
The stability of (3.3) is equivalent to the stability of (3.4), so we will work with (3.4).(1)
Forρ1<1-ρ2 by Theorem 2.2 the stability oval exists and the circle of radius ρ2 lies completely inside the oval. Therefore, Theorem 2.2 implies the asymptotic stability of (3.4). Part 1 of Theorem is proved.(2)
Let1-ρ2⩽ρ1<min(1+ρ2,k/(k-1)). Let us consider two cases.
Case 1 ((1-ρ2)⩽ρ1<1).
In this case, the stability oval exists by Theorem2.2, and the origin of the coordinates lies inside the oval. For (3.4) to be asymptotically stable, it is necessary and sufficient to satisfy the two following conditions. The first one is that the circle of radius ρ2 should intersect the stability oval. It is equivalent to ((H1)). The second condition is that the argument of a point exp(i(α2-kα1)) should be between the arguments of the two crosspoints M1,M2 of a circle of radius ρ2 with the stability oval (2.3). Let us assume that Im(M1)>0, and let the parameter ω correspond to the point M1. We obtain
(4.1)arg(M1)=arg(exp⁡(ikω)-ρ1exp⁡(i(k-1)ω))=(k-1)ω+arg(exp⁡(iω)-ρ1)
from (2.3). But we also obtain
(4.2)cos⁡ω=1+ρ12-ρ222ρ1
from (2.7). Equalities (4.1), (4.2) give
(4.3)arg(M1)=(k-1)arccos1+ρ12-ρ222ρ1+arccos1-ρ12-ρ222ρ1ρ2.
It follows from (4.3) that the second requirement is equivalent to ((H2)). Part 2 of Theorem 4.1 is proved in Case 1.
Case 2 (1⩽ρ1<min(1+ρ2,k/(k-1))).
By virtue of the inequalityρ1<k/(k-1), the stability oval exists, and, since ρ1⩾1, the origin does not lie inside the oval. The same requirements as in the previous case lead to the same conditions ((H1)), ((H2)). Part 2 of the Theorem is proved.(3)
Letρ1⩾min(1+ρ2,k/(k-1)). We consider two cases.
Case 1 (1+ρ2⩽ρ1<k/(k-1)).
In this case the stability oval exists by Theorem2.2, and, by virtue of the inequality ρ1⩾1, the origin does not lie inside the oval. Due to the inequality ρ2⩽ρ1-1, no point of the circle of radius ρ2 lies inside the oval and so (3.4) is not asymptotically stable by Theorem 2.2.
Case 2 (ρ1⩾k/(k-1)).
In this case, (3.4) is unstable by Theorem 2.2.
Theorem4.1 is proved.As we see, the text of Theorem4.1 does not contain any geometric terms. However, Theorem 3.2 has a considerable advantage over Theorem 4.1 because of its simplicity and geometric visualization. That is why in the future examples we prefer describing the stability of matrix equation (1.1) in geometric terms.


## 5. The Stability Cone for the Matrix Equation with Simultaneously Triangularizable Matrices

In this section we consider (1.1) with simultaneously triangularizable matrices A, B.Theorem 5.1.
LetA,B,S∈ℝm×m and  S-1AS=AT and  S-1BS=BT, where  AT,BT are the lower triangular matrices with elements, respectively,  λjs,μjs(1⩽j,s⩽m). Let
(5.1)bj=|μjj|exp⁡(i(arg(μjj)-karg(λjj))),aj=|λjj|(1⩽j⩽m),
and let the points Mj in ℝ3 be constructed by
(5.2)Mj=(Re(bj),Im⁡(bj),aj)(1⩽j⩽m).
Then (1.1) is asymptotically stable if and only if for any j(1⩽j⩽m) the point Mj lies inside cone (3.2).
If for somej(1⩽j⩽m) the point Mj lies outside cone (3.2), then (1.1) is unstable.Proof.
In (1.1) we substitute xn=Syn and multiply the equation by S-1. We obtain
(5.3)yn=ATyn-1+BTyn-k
with lower triangular matrices AT,BT. By virtue of the nondegeneracy of matrix S, the stability of (5.3) is equivalent to the stability of (1.1). Let us assume that yn=(yn(1),…,yn(m))T. The system (5.3) consists of m scalar equations
(5.4)yn(j)=λjjyn-1(j)+μjjyn-k(j)+∑s=1j-1λjsyn-1(s)+∑s=1j-1μjsyn-k(s)(1⩽j⩽m).
As usual, ∑s=10=0. Equation (5.4) is called exponentially stable if there are real C>0,q∈(0,1), such that for any solution yn(j) the estimate
(5.5)|yn(j)|⩽Cqnmax⁡(-k)⩽u⩽1,1⩽s⩽j|yu(s)|
holds. The exponential stability is equivalent to the asymptotic stability for the equations under consideration. It is more convenient to prove the exponential stability. Let the points (5.2) (1⩽j⩽m) lie inside the cone (3.2). Due to Theorem 3.2, all equations of the form
(5.6)yn(j)=λjjyn-1(j)+μjjyn-k(j)(1⩽j⩽m)
are exponentially stable. Let us prove by induction on j that (5.4) are exponentially stable. For j=1, (5.4) coincides with (5.6), so it is exponentially stable. Let, for any r<j, (5.4) with r instead of j be exponentially stable. Then (5.4) is represented in the form
(5.7)yn(j)=λjjyn-1(j)+μjjyn-k(j)+gn(j),
where |gn(j)| has an estimate of the form (5.5) by the induction assumption. Assuming zn=(yn(j),yn-1(j),…,yn-k(j))T, we represent (5.7) in the form
(5.8)zn=Gzn-1+hn,
where G∈ℝk×k, G is a stable matrix, and |hn| has an estimate of the form (5.5). From (5.8) we obtain zn=Gnz0+∑r=1nGn-rhr, which implies the exponential stability of (5.4). The induction is finished, and asymptotic stability of (1.1) is proved.
Let us assume that some point (5.2) does not lie strictly inside the cone. Then, for the initial data in (5.4), we assume that y-n(s)=0 for any s,n, such that 1⩽s⩽j, 1⩽n⩽k. Thus, (5.4) becomes (5.6). If the point (5.2) lies on the cone boundary, then (5.6) has a trajectory which does not tend to zero because the characteristic polynomial of (5.6) has a root z such that |z|=1. If some point (5.2) lies outside the cone, then by Theorem 3.2 the equation has unlimited trajectories. Theorem 5.1 is proved.Remark 5.2.
If no points (5.2) lie outside the stability cone, but some of them lie on the cone boundary, then (1.1) can be stable (nonasymptotically) or unstable.Remark 5.3.
The stability cones (Figure5) are constructed for each delay k independently of the dimension m in (1.1). If k→∞, then the intersection of all stability cones is the right circular cone with the base radius 1 and the height 1. The interior of this cone is the “absolute stability domain,” that is, the stability domain for any delay.Stability cones fork=2,3,4,5.
(a)(b)(c)(d)The next theorem, which is the evident consequence of Theorems4.1 and 5.1, will establish the asymptotic stability criterion in the form of inequalities for matrix equation (1.1).Theorem 5.4.
LetA,B,S∈ℝm×m and  S-1AS=AT and  S-1BS=BT, where  AT,BT are the lower triangular matrices with elements  λjs,μjs(1⩽j,s⩽m), respectively. Let
(5.9)ρ1j=|λjj|,α1j=arg(λjj),ρ2j=|μjj|,α2j=arg(μjj)(1⩽j⩽m).
Construct a set AS⊆P={j∈ℤ+:1⩽j⩽m} by the following rules (cf. Theorem 4.1).(1)
Ifρ1j<1-ρ2j, then j∈AS.(2)
If1-ρ2j⩽ρ1j<min(1+ρ2j,k/(k-1)), then for j∈AS it is necessary and sufficient to fulfill simultaneously the following conditions ((H1j)), ((H2j)): (H1j)ρ2j<ρ1j2+1-2ρ1jcos⁡ω1j,
where ω1j∈[0,π/k] is the root of the equation(H2j)ρ1j=sinkωsin(k-1)ω,|π-arg(exp⁡(i(α2j-kα1j)))|<π-(k-1)arccos1+ρ1j2-ρ2j22ρ1j-arccos1-ρ1j2-ρ2j22ρ1jρ2j.(3)
Ifρ1j⩾min(1+ρ2j,k/(k-1)), then j∉AS.Equation (1.1) is asymptotically stable if and only if AS=P.


## 6. Examples of the Stability Oval and the Cone for Matrix Equations

Example 6.1.
Consider the equation(6.1)xn=1.0309Axn-1+(0.9680B)sxn-6,
where
(6.2)A=(cos⁡α-sinαsinαcos⁡α),B=(cos⁡β-sinβsinβcos⁡β)
with α=0.0314, β=0.1745. Let us find out for what values of s∈ℤ+ (6.1) is stable. Matrices A,B are commuting; therefore, they are simultaneously triangularizable. The eigenvalues of matrices A,B are λ1,2=exp(±0.0314i) and μ1,2=exp(±0.1745i) correspondingly. In Figure 6 the stability oval is shown, which is the section of the stability cone (3.2) on the level z=1.0309. By Theorem 5.1 we have to know whether the points
(6.3)M(s)=(0.9680scos⁡(0.1745s-0.1884),0.9680ssin(0.1745s-0.1884))
lie inside the cone. Figure 6 illustrates that points M(s) enter the oval of stability twice (s=53,s=87) and leave it twice (s=58,s=94). The conclusion is that the system (6.1), (6.2) is stable for 53⩽s⩽58 and for 87⩽s⩽94 and is unstable for all the other values of s.Figure 6
The stability oval and pointsM(s) for Example 6.1.Example 6.2.
Consider the equation(6.4)xn=13(Asxn-1+Axn-6),
where
(6.5)A=(01.0150-1.01502.0300).
Let us find out for what values ofs∈ℤ+ (6.4) is stable. The eigenvalues of A are λ1,2=1.0150exp(±0.0374i). Stability ovals are symmetric about the real axis. Therefore, by Theorem 5.1, only points
(6.6)M(s)=(0.3383cos⁡(0.0374(1-6s)),0.3383sin(0.0374(1-6s)),1.0150s3)
(see Figure 7) should be checked. Figure 7 displays that points M(s) for 1⩽s⩽49 are inside the stability cone (3.2) and for s⩾50 points are outside of the stability cone. The conclusion is that (6.4) is stable for 1⩽s⩽49 and it is unstable for s⩾50.Figure 7
The stability cone and pointsM(s) for Example 6.2. Grey points M(s) (1⩽s⩽49) are located inside the cone therefore (6.4) is stable. Dark points M(s) (s⩾50) are located outside  therefore  (6.4) is unstable.


## 7. Conclusion

The stability analysis for (1.1) in ℝm can be reduced to the pole placement problem for a polynomial of degree km. Our geometric approach allows us to reduce the dimension. To use the approach, we need to know the eigenvalues of A,B. This is the problem of finding the roots of a polynomial of degree m. Using these eigenvalues, we get a finite sequence of points in ℝ3 such that their position with respect to the stability cone allows us to make a conclusion about the stability of (1.1).In our future work we intend to analyze the stability of equationxn=Axn-m+Bxn-k with two delays m,k with simultaneously triangularizable matrices A,B. The scalar version of this equation was examined in [2, 3, 18]. The stability cone for the matrix differential equation ẋ(t)=Ax(t)+Bx(t-τ) was introduced in [19].



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*Source: 860326-2011-05-19.xml*