ABSTRACT
In order to better understand the complexity of large, nonlinear systems, we will Ÿrst describe the important attributes of large, dynamic, linear, time-invariant (LTI) systems. Large LTI systems are generally complicated, not necessarily complex. They generally do not exhibit tipping points or emergent behavior. They are modeled by sets of linear ODEs, difference equations, or linear algebraic equations. They can generally be analyzed by using reductionist methods; by describing their subsystems or modules, you can understand the system as a whole. This is because the important property of superposition applies to LTI systems. Below, we examine large linear systems and review the more important mathematical formalisms used to analyze them.
