Undergrad Square of a differentiable functional

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The discussion focuses on the square of a differentiable functional represented by an integral, specifically examining the expression for the variation of this functional. The author attempts to derive the first-order approximation of the square of the functional, leading to a formulation involving derivatives of the function. Questions arise regarding the definitions of the functional and the nature of the function being squared, emphasizing the need for clarity in definitions and context. Participants highlight the importance of formal definitions in proving differentiability and suggest that additional guidance would facilitate understanding. The conversation underscores the complexity of functional analysis and the necessity for precise mathematical communication.
LCSphysicist
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Write a formula for the square functional's variation
1603038459204.png

I will consider first the case of ## \left [ J \right ] = \int f(x,y,y') ##, if it is right believe is easy to generalize...
$$ \Delta J $$
$$\int (f(x,y+h,y'+h'))^2 - (f(x,y,y'))^2 $$
$$\int \sim [f(x,y,y') + f_{y}(x,y,y')h + f_{y'}(x,y,y')h']^2 - [f(x,y,y')]^2$$
to first order: $$\int \sim 2f(x,y,y')[f_{y}h + f_{y'}h']$$

All is ok? Is this right?
 

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What sort of function are you talking about here, and why the integral?
 
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PeroK said:
What sort of function are you talking about here, and why the integral?
"What sort of function?" Sorry, i think i don't understand the question. It is a functional, and the integral, yes, there is another types of functional, but as this chapter just treat the integral cases, i follow it and consider this functional form. But if you are talking about f, i am restringing it to continuous function with first derivative functions too.
 
LCSphysicist said:
"What sort of function?" Sorry, i think i don't understand the question. It is a functional, and the integral, yes, there is another types of functional, but as this chapter just treat the integral cases, i follow it and consider this functional form. But if you are talking about f, i am restringing it to continuous function with first derivative functions too.
You'll need to be careful about how things are defined here. Are you squaring the functional? Or some function, the integral of which is the functional? How is a functional derivative defined?

If you are trying to prove something you need a formal definition.
 
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To Perok's point, here's what I expected to see for proving the square of a differentiable function is differentiable.

If f(x) is differentiable, let ##g(x)=x^2##. Then g is differentiable, and by the chain rule g(f(x)) is differentiable.
Your proof looks, well, different, which suggests we are missing context. Some people may know what you're talking about, but a little extra guidance as to what the objects are you are dealing with will widen the net of who can help you.
 
Actually, the question can be divided in two parts, to prove it, and find an expression for the square functional's variation. My post was about the second, as it is in the summary, i believe it was easier to start
 

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