Any inflexion-point solutions to Euler-Lagrange equation?

In summary, the conversation discusses the use of Euler-Lagrange equation to find the shortest distance between two points. It is mentioned that the equation gives a stationary value, not necessarily an extremum value. The conversation also brings up the topic of inflexion-point solutions and their mention by Professor Susskind.
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The following pages use Euler-Lagrange equation to solve for the shortest distance between two points and in the last paragraph mentions: "the straight line has only been proved to be an extremum path".

I believe the solution to the Euler-Lagrange equation gives the total length ##I## a stationary value and not an extremum value, so should the book have said: "the straight line has only been proved to be an extremum path or an inflexion-point path"?

Also, Professor Susskind, I believe, never mentions inflexion-point solutions when he teaches Euler-Lagrange equation, but only extremum and saddle-point solutions.

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Yes, the EL equations give stationary solutions. The prime example of this is finding stationary pathlengths on the sphere. The global minimum between two points is the shorter part of the great circle connecting them. The long part lf the same great circle can be shown to be neither a minimum or a maximum.
 
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1. What is an inflexion-point solution?

An inflexion-point solution is a solution to the Euler-Lagrange equation that satisfies the boundary conditions and has a point of inflection. This means that the first derivative of the solution changes sign at a certain point.

2. How does an inflexion-point solution differ from a regular solution?

An inflexion-point solution differs from a regular solution in that it has a point of inflection, while a regular solution does not. Inflexion-point solutions are often considered more complex and challenging to find.

3. What types of problems can be solved using inflexion-point solutions?

Inflexion-point solutions can be used to solve various problems in mathematics and physics, such as finding the shortest path between two points, determining the shape of a hanging rope, or finding the optimal trajectory for a projectile. They can also be used in optimization problems.

4. How are inflexion-point solutions found?

Finding inflexion-point solutions involves solving the Euler-Lagrange equation, which is a second-order differential equation. This can be done analytically or numerically, depending on the complexity of the problem. In some cases, it may also require the use of computational methods or approximations.

5. What are the applications of using inflexion-point solutions?

Inflexion-point solutions have various practical applications in fields such as physics, engineering, and economics. They can be used to optimize systems and processes, model physical phenomena, and find solutions to complex problems that cannot be solved using traditional methods.

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