# Calculus of Variations

1. Oct 14, 2005

### touqra

I am facing a difficult integral here for calculus of variations. The question reads:
Find the extremum to the integral:
$$I[y(x)] = \int_{Q}^{P} (dy/dx)^2(1+dy/dx)^2 dx$$
$$where$$$$P = (0,0)$$ $$and$$ $$Q = (1,2)$$

Last edited: Oct 14, 2005
2. Oct 14, 2005

### saltydog

How about using Euler's equation:

$$\frac{\partial F}{\partial y}-\frac{d}{dx}\left(\frac{\partial F}{\partial y^{'}}\right)=0$$

where:

$$F(x,y,y^{'})=\left(y^{'}\right)^2(1+y^{'})^2$$

However, that's usually on an interval and not from point to point as you have it defined above.

This of course results in a highly non-linear ODE. Push come to shove, I'd solve it numerically.

Last edited: Oct 14, 2005
3. Oct 14, 2005

### touqra

Since this is about extremum, we clearly have to start with the Euler-Lagrange equation. But, you are right. We will obtain a non-linear ODE. It is this ODE I am having headache with.

4. Oct 14, 2005

### saltydog

Can you post the resulting ODE? I'd like to check it against mine which is really not too bad: second-degree, first order ODE.

5. Oct 14, 2005

### touqra

Because the integrand is independent of y, hence, when I use Euler equation, it gives me,

$$2y'^3 + 3y'^2 + y' = constant$$

6. Oct 14, 2005

### Hurkyl

Staff Emeritus
That's just a cubic equation in y' -- it factors into (y' - a)(y' - b)(y' - c) = 0, does it not?

7. Oct 14, 2005

### saltydog

Well . . . can't say the Calculus of Variation is my strong suit but when I solve the Euler equation, I get:

$$6(y^{'})^2+6y^{'}+1=0$$

Can someone rectify this discrepancy please?

8. Oct 14, 2005

### touqra

Errr.... I guess there is a way to solve this non-linear differential equation which I am not aware of its existence. What should you do after you factorise a differential equation?
Let say for example,

$$(y'+1)(y'+2) = 0$$

Then, $$y'+1 = 0$$ or $$y'+2 = 0$$

That means to say that y is a function whereby its first derivative can take only the value -1 or -2 ?

What's the next step?

9. Oct 14, 2005

### Hurkyl

Staff Emeritus
Well, there aren't many functions whose derivative is always either -1 or -2, are there? (Even fewer if you assume the derivative is continuous...)

10. Oct 14, 2005

### touqra

How can the derivative be continuous when the derivative takes on discrete values of either -1 or -2 ?
IMO, the only function whose derivative is either -1 or -2, are somewhat like stepwise functions with straight lines. I suppose you are saying that this applies to the original question. Are there any other functions?

11. Oct 15, 2005

### saltydog

What's wrong with:

$$y(x)=-x+b$$

or:

$$y(x)=-2x+b$$

Thus, being a variational problem, I'd substitute them both into the integral, evaluate it, and see which one yields the extremum I seek.
Or should I say, "is that what I SHOULD do?"

Last edited: Oct 15, 2005
12. Oct 15, 2005

### touqra

I think there is something wrong if you factorise the equation and let y' be equal to a constant. If y' does equal a constant, then, y is a straight line having a slope equals to that constant.
But in the original question, there are boundary conditions, ie,
P=(0,0) and Q=(1,2)

If it is a straight line, obviously we can get the function y straight away from just the end points P and Q.
What is your opinion?

13. Oct 15, 2005

### Hurkyl

Staff Emeritus
Straight lines, even splits, et cetera are often solutions to extremal problems, so I'm not surprised.

I'm pretty sure my approach is valid -- if you've proven that the derivative must satisfy that cubic, then at all points it must be equal to one of its roots, and if the derivative is continuous, it must be a constant.

I don't know if you should assume the derivative is continuous or not.

If it's not, then the simpler solutions for y are piecewise-linear... I'm not sure if there are pathological continuous solutions.

14. Oct 15, 2005

### saltydog

For the record I wish to correct a conclusion I made above:

Solving the Euler equation, I obtained:

$$2(1+6y^{'}+6(y^{'})^2)y^{''}=0$$

Now, either the quantity in paranthesis is zero or the second derivative. In the former case:

$$1+6y^{'}+6(y^{'})^2=0$$

I obtain:

$$y^{'}=\frac{-1\pm\sqrt{1-2/3}}{2}$$

Note that the slope is negative in both instances so this solution cannot meet the boundary conditions above. In the second case:

$$y^{''}=0$$

The solution is:

$$y(x)=ax+b$$

Using the boundary conditions: y(0)=0 and y(1)=2, I obtain:

$$y(x)=2x$$

Toqura, I assume you're finished with this problem by now right?

Edit: Oh yea, can someone tell me how to prove y(x) is a solution to this functional equation?

Last edited: Oct 15, 2005
15. Oct 16, 2005

### touqra

Thanks.

I think I will write assumptions whether the first derivative is continuous or not, first case and second case.
And then, go on to solve it by factorising like what saltydog did.