Dept.

of Mathematics, BMSCE Unit 5: Calculus of Variations

CALCULUS OF VARIATIONS:
x2

EULER’S EQUATION: A necessary condition for I   f ( x, y, y ')dx to be an extremum is that

x1

f d  f 
  0
y dx  y  

Other forms of Euler’s equation:

d  f  f
i. If f is a function of x, y, y’ then Euler’s equation will be of the form  f  y  0
dx  y   x
ii. If f is a function of x, y, y’ then Euler’s equation will be of the form
f 2 f 2 f 2 f
  y  y  0
y x y y y    y
2

1. Find the extremal of the following functionals:

x2

 ( y ' x
2
a) y '2 ) dx . (Grewal)
x1
x2

 (y  y '2  2 ye x ) dx .
2
b) (Grewal)
x1
b

 (x y '2  2 y 2  2 xy ) dx . (Grewal)
2
c)
a
x2

 (y'  y 2  2 y sec x ) dx .
2
d)
x1
x1

e)  ( x  y) ydx . (Grewal)

x0
x1

 (1  x
2
f) y ') y ' dx . (Grewal)
x0

g)


 2  0 .
2
h)  (y
2
 y '2  2 y sin x) dx, y (0)  y  (Grewal)
0

2
i)  (y'  y
2 2
 4 y cos x) dx, y (0)  y    0 . (Grewal)
0

1 y2
x1

j)  y '3 dx (Grewal)
x0
2
x3
k)  dx ; y 1  0 & y 2  3. (Grewal)
1
y'2
2
1  y'2
l)  dx ; y 1  0 & y 2  1. (Grewal)
1
x
x1
y'2
m)  x3
dx (Grewal)
x0

Applied Mathematics Page 1

Dept. of Mathematics, BMSCE Unit 5: Calculus of Variations

2
x3
n)  dx ; y 1  0 & y 2  3. (Grewal)
1
y'2
o)

 y' 
2
p) On which curve the functional 2
 y 2  2 xy dx with y 0  0 & y  / 2  0 be
0
extremized?

 y' 
1

q) Find the curves on which the functional 2

12 xy dx with y 0  0 & y 1  1 .
0

2
1
2. Show that the curve joining the points 1, 0  and  2,1 for which I   1  y 2 dx is an extremum
1
x
is a circle.


 y 
2
3. Solve the variational problem  2
 y ' 2 dx under the conditions y 0  0 & y  / 2  0 .
0

4. Find the path on which a particle in the absence of friction will slide from one point to another in
the shortest time under the action of gravity. (Brachistochrone problem )

5. A heavy cable hangs freely under gravity between fixed points. Show that the shape of the cable
is catenary. (Hanging chain problem)
1

 ( y '  12 xy )dx with y(0)  0 and y (1)  1 can be

2
6. Find the curve on which the functional
0
extremized?
1

 ( x  y  y ' )dx  0 under the conditions y(0)  1 and y(1)  2 .

2
7. Solve the variational problem
0
1

Show that the general solution of the Euler’s equation for the integral  y  3x( y '  1)  yy ' dx
2 2 3
8.
0

under the conditions y(0)  0 and y(1)  2 is x 2  y 2  5 x  0

b
1
9. Show that the general solution of the Euler’s equation for the integral  1  ( y ') 2 dx is
a
y
( x  h) 2  y 2  k 2 .

Applied Mathematics Page 2