Let the origin be an [[critical point|isolated critical point]] of the above system.
A [[function]] <math> V(x,y)</math> that is of class <math>C^{1}</math> and satisfies <math>V(0,0)=0</math> is called a '''Liapunov function''' if every [[open ball]] <math> B_(\delta)(0,0)</math> contains at least one [[point]] where <math> V>0</math>. If there happens to exist <math> \delta^{*}</math> such that the function <math> \dot{V}</math>, given by