Math-328, Methods of Applied Math
Section 4.1 — Variational Problems
4th ed.

Dr. Kevin G. TeBeest

 
On page 226, do:

* NOTES:
  1. In Problem 1, you are simply asked to evaluate the given integral by plugging in y(t) = – t.
    Notice that this is opposite the way such a problem would normally be addressed. Normally we would not be given a function y.
    Instead, we would be given the functional J and asked to determine what function y minimizes J.

  2. In Problem 2, you are to plug the given function y(x) into the integral and evaluate the integral. The result will be a function of c1 and c2.
    Then use Calc-III to determine the values of c1 and c2 that minimize the result. You may use Maple (Matlab, etc.) as a tool to help you, but you might learn more if you do it by hand.

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