Solutions of period four for a non-linear difference equation
AbstractThe paper extends earlier work by using the factorisation method to discuss solutions of period four for the difference equationThis 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.