Solution to Two-Street System

Let

and

be geometric sequences, with r1 and r2 as the common ratios of Un and Sn

respectively and let d1 and d2 as the scale factors of Un and Sn respectively. This represents the delay function of both streets, assuming that traffic speed decreases exponentially as the number of cars increases:

Note that the exponent of the first term is 0 (1-1= 0), which reduces the ratio term to 1. Hence, d1 = U1 and d2=S1. For the remainder of this exploration, both scale factors will be represented as the first term of the sequence, U1 and S1 respectively.

Also let the first three terms be equal to the coefficients of a system of equations, following the previous pattern noted.

Solving this general system of equations requires the isolation of a variable using algebraic techniques, in this case an elimination method. Each equality will be multiplied by a factor, a for the Un sequence and b for the Sn sequence, such that:

And hence eliminate the y terms by subtracting the equalities together, isolating x.

Subtracting the equalities yields:

x can now be isolated using algebraic methods:

The equality formed from the elimination method can be used to find the value of the denominator in terms of the common ratios. Using the definition of a Geometric sequence:

Solving for aU1 and bS1, then substituting the results back into the x equality yields:

The two terms of the denominator can be combined by cross-multiplying their denominators:

The terms of the geometric sequences in the numerator can be similarly reduced using the definition of the Geometric Sequence:

The terms of the numerator and denominator are opposite of each other. Hence, either can be rewritten as the negative of the other.

Hence, the solution to x, the x-coordinate of the point of intersection, is the negative product of the two common ratios in each geometric system. y can be found by substituting x back into one of the equalities and solving for y:

Expanding all geometric terms in terms of U1 and r1 yields:

The numerator shares a the

term with the denominator, and can hence be eliminated:

Hence, the y intersection of the system is the sum of the two common ratios. Hence, the solution of the system, and at which the two equalities intersect graphically, is solely dependent on the two common ratios of the coefficients of each equality in the system. The point of intersection can be generalized as:

Hence, there is a unique equilibrium point for any generalized two-street system.

Proof of General Boundary

Let n equal any arbitrary y value in the set of equalities. Hence, n is defined in terms of

common ratios as

. )

The range of x values that can yield n in the set can be expressed as a single common ratio and n. This can be done by isolating a common ratio and substituting :

Expanding and simplifying the x term yields:

As this equality shows,

is equivalent to x when y= n. Hence, the range of

will be the set of all possible x values the geometric set can satisfy n as a y variable. From the behavior of quadratic equations, this equality will have an upper range of infinity, while the lower

range will be defined as the extrema of the parabola. The extreme can be found by differentiating for r1 and finding where the subsequent derivative is 0.