Neighbourhood of a hyperbolic equilibrium point in a two-dimensional, autonomous, dynamical system: The blue segment of initial conditions from Q₀ to R₀, transverse to the stable invariant manifold, will undergo great stretch when the system is integrated from time t₀ to t_f and it transforms into the curve from Q_f to R_f. Conversely, the red segment of initial conditions from Q₀ to S₀ will undergo great compression when the system is integrated and it transforms into the curve from Q_f to S_f. Any segment of initial conditions not intersecting the invariant manifolds will undergo lesser stretches or strains.