Repeated Eigenvalues Imply Nodes? A Problem of Planar Differential Equations

Abstract

Poincar\'e gave a criterion which determines the shape of equilibrium for planar differential equations. In his statement, he excluded the case of repeated eigenvalues. In fact, in such a case, we can give a $C^1$ counter-example to his assertion. In this note, we show that if we strengthen the condition to $C^{1,\alpha}$ ($0<\alpha<1$), his assertion becomes true even in case of repeated eigenvalues.