bifurcation theory


bifurcation theory

[‚bī·fər′kā·shən ‚thē·ə·rē] (mathematics) The study of the local behavior of solutions of a nonlinear equation in the neighborhood of a known solution of the equation; in particular, the study of solutions which appear as a parameter in the equation is varied and which at first approximate the known solution, thus seeming to branch off from it. Also known as branching theory.