# Lipschitz condition on nonlinear ODE

Suppose we have the ODE $$x''=-a\sin{x}.$$

Then let $$x'=y$$ and $$y'=-a\sin{x}.$$ So $$\mathbf X = \begin{pmatrix} y \\ -a\sin{x} \end{pmatrix}.$$ Im confused about how to show a Lipschitz condtion and what interval to use. So the way I have been trying is to take $${||\mathbf X(t,x_1)-\mathbf X(t,x_2)||}= { \sqrt {(y_1-y_2)^2 +(-a\sin{(x_1)}-(-a)\sin{(x_2)})^2} }$$

Then I have: $${ \sqrt {(y_1-y_2)^2 +(-a\sin{(x_1)}-(-a)\sin{(x_2)})^2} } \over{\sqrt {(x_1-x_2)^2+(y_1-y_2)^2}} .$$

This is where Im stuck as to show that a Lipschitz constant exists.

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You need some domain to show the Lipschitz condition. If you are trying to find some domain, then any bounded domain will work, because your field is $C^\infty$. –  Tomás Feb 3 '13 at 22:45
The question is very similar to math.stackexchange.com/questions/293368/… –  user53153 Feb 3 '13 at 23:02

Tomas is correct in the comments : A more direct proof :

Let $x_1' = x_2$. Let $x_2' = -a\sin{x_1}$. Let's show first that $\sin$ is lipschitz. We have $$|\sin(x)-\sin(y)| = |2\sin(\frac{x-y}{2})\cos(\frac{x+y}{2})| \leq 2\frac{1}{2}|x-y| = |x-y|$$

Now for our system, we have

$$|X(x,t) - X(y,t)| = \sqrt{(x_2-y_2)^2 + (-a\sin x_1 + a\sin y_1)^2}$$ $$\leq\sqrt{(x_2 - y_2)^2 + a^2(x_1-y_1)^2} \ \text{from above}$$ $$\leq max(a^2,1)|x-y|$$

So we have Lipschitz (on bounded domains)

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