Hamiltonian question

Maybe_Memorie

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Find the Hamiltonian and Hamilton's equations of motion for a system with two degrees of
freedom with the following Lagrangian

L = 1/2m₁[itex]\dot{}xdot[/itex]₁² + 1/2m₂[itex]\dot{}xdot[/itex]₂² + B₁₂[itex]\dot{}xdot[/itex]₁x₂ + B₂₁[itex]\dot{}xdot[/itex]₁x₁ - U(x₁, x₂)

Explain why equations of motion do not depend on the symmetric part of B_ij.

2. Relevant equations



3. The attempt at a solution

No problem finding the Hamiltonian and the e.o.m. The last part is the problem. All I can think of is that the symmetric part is diagonalised to become the mass, since in general for a lagrangian you have L = 1/2 a_ij(q)[itex]^{}qdot[/itex]²