J.R.

INSTITUTE OF MATHEMATICS
189/35 BEHIND RAILWAY STATION, VAISH COLLEGE ROAD, ROHTAK PIN-124001 (HARYANA)
E-mail us on - jrinstituterohtak@gmail.com, balwanmudgil54@gmail.com Mob. 8607383607, 9802177766

Page 1

1. Simple variational problems

Variational Calculus is the branch of mathematics concerned with the problem of finding a function
for which the value of a certain integral is either the largest or the smallest possible. That integral is
technically known as a functional.
Variational Calculus deals with functionals. Briefly, a functional is a function of a function. The
difference between a functional and an ordinary function can be appreciated in the table.

Input : argument x Output : function

(independent Function value y (dependent
variable) operator variable)

1.(a) x 
 f 
 y  y( x)  f ( x) Functions

Input 1 : argument x Input 2 : function

(independent y  y ( x ) (primary Functional Output : functional
variable) dependent variable) operator value J (a scalar)

1.(b) x 
 f 
 y  f ( x) 
 J  J  y   J  x, y 


Input 1 : argument x Input 2 : function

(independent y  y ( x ) (primary Functional Output : functional
variable) dependent variable) operator value J (a scalar)

1.(c) x 
 f 
 y  f ( x) 
 J  J  y   J  x, y , y '

 
Input 3 : derivative of primary dependent value
y '  dy / dx Functionals

We shall consider the functional

b
I  y  x     F  x, y, y ' dx ; y  a   y1 , y  b   y2
a

where x is independent variable, y is dependent variable and y ' is first derivative of the dependent
variable.

Three forms of Euler’s equation :

F d  F 
(i)   0
y dx  y ' 
d  F  F
(ii)  F  y'  0
dx  y '  x
F 2F 2F  2F
(iii)   y'  y '' 2  0
y x y ' y y ' y '
 2
Note : For a functional extremal can be unique, infinite or does not exist depending on the boundary
conditions.
Def. C n  a, b  is the set of all functions having continuous nth order derivative in  a, b 

Some results from calculus :

1. The distance between two points ( x1 , y1 ) and ( x2 , y2 ) along a curve y  y ( x ) is given by
x2

I [ y ( x)]   1  y2 dx .
x1

2. When a curve joining P1 ( x1 , y1 ) and P2 ( x2 , y2 ) is revolved about x-axis, the area of the surface of
x2

revolution is given by S [ y ( x)]  2  y 1  y '2 dx .

x1

3. Time taken by a particle in sliding from ( x1 , y1 ) to ( x2 , y2 ) along a curve y  y ( x ) is given by

x2
1 1  y '2
T [ y ( x)]   dx where g is gravitational constant.
2g x1 y
4. Cycloid is formed during rolling of any circle. Let a be the radius of that rolling circle then
parametric equation of cycloid is x  a (  sin  ) , y  a (1  cos )

Type : Integrand contains y only

1
 y3 
Example : Find the extremal of the functional I  y ( x)     y   dx subject to the conditions
0 
3 
y  0   1and y 1  1.
y3
Solution : F  x, y , y '   y  , y  0   1, y 1  1
3
F d  F 
Euler’s equation :   0
y dx  y ' 
d
 1 y2   0  0  y2  1  y  x  1
dx
y (0)  1, y (1)  1 , both the boundary conditions are satisfied.
Hence the extremal is y ( x)  1 .

Exercise 1.1
1
 y3 
1. Find the extremal of the functional I  y ( x)     y   dx subject to the conditions y  0   0 and
0 
3 
y 1  1.
b
 y3 
2. Find the extremal of the functional I  y ( x)     y   dx subject to the conditions y  a   y1
a 
3 
J.R. INSTITUTE OF MATHEMATICS
189/35 BEHIND RAILWAY STATION, VAISH COLLEGE ROAD, ROHTAK PIN-124001 (HARYANA)
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Page 3

and y  b   y2 . What are the conditions on y1 and y2 so that given functional can have an extremum ?
b
 y3 
3. Find the extremal of the functional I  y ( x)     y   dx .
a
3 
2
4. Find the extremal of the functional I  y ( x)    y 2dx subject to the boundary conditions y 1  0
1

and y  2   0. Also tell that extremal curve is a minimum curve or maximum curve.
1
5. Find the extremal of the functional I  y ( x)    y 3dx subject to the boundary conditions y  0   0
0

and y 1  1.
1
6. Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)]    2e y  y 2  dx subject to the conditions y  0   1 and
0

y 1  e.

Answers

1. No extremal 2. y1  y2  1 or y1  y2  1 3. No extremal
4. y  x   0, minimum curve 5. No extremal 6. No extremal
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type : Integrand contains x and y only
3
Example : Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)]   (3x  y ) y dx subject to the conditions
1

3 9
y (1)  , y (3)  .
2 2
3 9
Solution : F  x, y , y '    3 x  y  y , y 1  , y  3 
2 2
F d  F  3
  0  3x  2 y  0  0  y ( x)  x
y dx  y '  2
3 9
y (1)  and y (3)  , both the boundary condtions are satisfied.
2 2
3x
Hence the extremal is y ( x)  .
2
 4

Exercise 1.2
3
1. Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)]   (3x  y ) y dx subject to the conditions y (1)  1 ,
1

9
y (3)  .
2

2
  
2. Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)]   y (2 x  y )dx ; y (0)  0 , y   
0 2 2
1
3. Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)]   (5 x  2 y ) y dx subject to the conditions y (0)  0 ,
0

5
y (1)  .
4
4. What changes in the values of y  0  and y 1 should be made in above problem so that it may have
an extremal ?

Answers
5
1. No extremal 2. y  x 3. No extremal 4. y 1  
and y  0  is unchanged.
4
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type : Integrand is of the form M ( x, y )  N ( x , y ) y '
1
y
Example : Find the extremals of the functional  (e  xy ')dx that satisfy the boundary conditions :
0

y (0)  0 , y (1)  0
Solution : F  x, y , y '   e y  xy ' , y (0)  0, y (1)  0
F d  F  d
  0  ey   x  0
y dx  y '  dx
 e y 1  0  ey  1
Taking log both side, we get y  x  0
y (0)  0  y (1) , both the boundary conditions are satisfied.
Hence the extremal is y ( x)  0

Exercise 1.3
1

  xy  y  2 y 2 y 'dx , y (0)  1 , y (1)  2

2
1. Find the extremals of the functional
0

1
2. Find the extremals of the functional I [ y ( x)]   ( y 2  x 2 y ')dx ; y (0)  0 , y (1)  a
0
J.R. INSTITUTE OF MATHEMATICS
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Page 5
x2

3. Test on extremum the functional I [ y ( x)]   ( y  xy ')dx subject to boundary conditions y ( x1 )  y1

x1

and y  x2   y2
b
4. Test on extremum the functional I [ y ( x)]   ( y  y ')dx .
a

1
5. Test on extremum the functional I [ y ( x)]   x y y ' dx subject to boundary conditions y (0)  0 and
0

y 1  1 .

Answers
1. No extremal 2. If a 1 then the extremal is y  x , and if a  1 then no extremal.
3. Problem is meaningless and so no extremal. 4. No extremal 5. No extremal
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Type : Integrand contains y ' only

x2

Example : Find the extremals of  1  y '2 dx subject to the conditions y  x1   y1 and y  x2   y2 .

x1

Solution : F  x, y , y '   1  y '2 , y ( x1 )  y1 , y ( x2 )  y2

F d  F  d  y' 
  0  0  0
y dx  y '  dx  1  y '2 

y'
  c2  y '2  c 1  y '2 
2
1 y '
c
 y '2 1  c   c  y '2  c  y' c  y '  c1 (say)
1 c
 y ( x )  c1 x  c2
y  x1   y1  y1  c1 x1  c2 …….(1)
y  x2   y2  y2  c1 x2  c2 …….(2)

y1  y2 y y 
By equation (1) and (2), we get c1  , c2  y1  x1  1 2 
x1  x2  x1  x2 
y2  y1
 y  y1   x  x1 
x2  x1
 6

Exercise 1.4
x2
2
1. Find the extremals of  1  y '( x ) dx subject to the conditions y  x1   y1 and y  x2   y2 .
x1

2. By using Euler’s equation, find the curves passing through (0,3) and (4,11) such that its length
between the given points is shortest.
1
3. Find the extremal of  y ' dx subject to the conditions y  0   0 , y 1  1 .
0

1
2
4. Find the extremal of  y' dx subject to the conditions y  0   0 , y 1  1 .
0

Answers
y2  y1
1. y  y1   x  x1  2. y  2x  3
x2  x1

3. Problem is meaningless and so no extremal 4. y  x

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type : Integrand contains x and y ' only
1
1
Example : Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)]  x
2
y '2 dx ; y    1, y 1  2
12 2

1
Solution : F  x, y , y '   x 2 y '2 , y    1, y (1)  2
2
d
0
dx
 2 x 2 y '  0

dy c
 x2 y '  c  x2 c  dy  dx
dx x2
x 1 c1
 y  c1  c2  y  c2
1 x
1
y  1  1  2c1  c2 …..(1)
2
y 1  2  2  c1  c2 …..(2)
By equation (1) and (2), we get c1  1 and c2  3
1 1
 y ( x)  3  y '( x ) 
x x2
1 1
1 1 1
and I  y ( x)    x  4 dx   2 dx   x 1 1   1  2  1
2

1 x 1 x 2
2 2

Value  1
J.R. INSTITUTE OF MATHEMATICS
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Exercise 1.5
x2

1. Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)]    xy ' y '2  dx .

x1

2
2
2. Find the extremals and extremum value of the functional   x  y '
0
dx ; y  0   0 and y  2   4

4
3. Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)]    xy ' y '2  dx ; y (0)  0 , y (4)  3
0

x2

 y '1  x y ' dx
2
4. Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)] 
x1

5. From among the curves connecting the points P1 (1,3) and P2 (2,5) , find the curve on which an
2

 y ' 1  x y ' dx
2
extremum of the functional can be obtained.
1
1
  x  y '  dx
2
6. Find the extremal of the functional that satisfy the boundary conditions y  0   1,
0

y 1  2.

x2 2
 dy  n
7. Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)]   x   dx where n  1 , passing through the fixed
x1  dx 
points ( x1 , y1 ) and ( x2 , y2 ) .
2
y '2
8. Show that the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)]   dx , y (0)  0 and y (2)  1 is a parabola.
0
x
x2
y '2
9. Find the extremal of the functional  dx
x1
x3
2
x3
10. Find the extremal of the functional  dx with y (1)  0 and y (2)  3
1 y '2
4 2

11. Find the extremal of the functional

 y ' dx ; y (0)  0 , y (4)  4

0
x 3

2 2
x
12. Find the extremal of the functional t 3
dt with x(1)  3 and x(2)  18
1

x2
1  y '2
13. Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)]   dx
x1
x
 8
2
1  y '2
14. Show that the curve through (1,0) and (2,1) which minimizes  dx is a circle.
1 x
b
15. Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)]   x 1  y '2 dx
a

b
16. Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)]   x 1  y '2 dx
a

Answers
x2 x2 x2  x
1. y  c1 x  c2  2. y  x  ; value = 2 3. y 
4 2 4
c1 4
4. y   c2 5. y  7  6. y  x  1 .
x x
y1  y2 1 n y2 x11n  y1 x21n
7. y  x  8. x 2  4 y 9. y  c1 x 4  c2
x11n  x21n x11n  x21n
x2
10. y  x 2  1 11. y  12. x  t 4  2
4
2  y  c2 
13. x 2   y  c1   c22 14. x 2  ( y  2)2  5 15. x  c1 cosh  
 c1 
16. y  2 c1 x  c1  c2
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type : Integrand contains y and y ' only
1
Example : Find the extremal of the functional I  y  x      y 2  y2  dx, where y  0   0, y 1  1
0

Solution : F  x, y , y '   y 2  y '2 , y (0)  0, y (1)  1

d
2y   2 y '  0  y  y"  0
dx
D2 1  0  D  1
 y ( x)  c1e  c2 e  x
x

y 0  0  c1  c2  0  c1  c2 ……(1)

y 1  1  c1e  c2 e 1  1 ……(2)

By equation (1) and (2), we get c1  e  e 1   1 .

Now divide both side by 2, we get
 e  e 1  1 1 1 1
c1    c1 sinh1   c1  , c2  
 2  2 2 2sinh1 2sinh1
1 sinh x
 y ( x) 
2sinh1
 e x  e x  
sinh1
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Exercise 1.6
x2

1. Obtain the Euler’s equation for the extremal of the functional I ( y ( x))    ay 2  by '2  cyy ' dx
x1

x2

2. Find the extremal of the functional I ( y ( x))    y 2  yy ' y '2  dx

x1


2
   
3. Find the extremal of the functional I ( y ( x))    x 2  x 2  dt , x(0)  0 , x    1
0  2
x2

  y '  12 yy ' 16 y  dx
2 2
4. Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)] 
x1

1
5. Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)]    y '2  4 y 2  dx , y (0)  e 2 , y (1)  1
0


6. Find the extremal of the functional J  y  x    
0
4
 y '  y dx that satisfy the boundary conditions
2 2

  1
y  0   1, y    .
4 2

7. Find the extremals and the stationary function of the functional J  y  x      y '2  y 2  dx that
0

satisfy the boundary conditions y  0   1, y     1.

2
8. Find the extremals and the stationary function of the functional J  y  x    
0
 y '  y  dx that
2 2

satisfy the boundary conditions y  0   1, y  2   1.

1 1
9. Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)]   yy '2 dx ; y (0)  1 , y (1)  4 3
0

1
1  y2
10. Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)]   dx passing through the origin and the point
0
y'

(1,1).

x2
1  y2
11. Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)]   dx
x1
y '2
x2

12. Find the extremal of the functional y 1  y '2 dx

x1
 10
x2
1  y '2
13. Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)]   dx
x1
y
x2
1  y '2
14. Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)]   dx
x1 y

Answers
a
1. y "  y0 2. y  c1 e x  c2 e  x 3. x  sin t
b
4. y  c1 sin  4 x  c2  or y  c1 cos  4 x  c2  or y  c1 cos 4 x  c2 sin 4 x 5. y  e 2(1 x )
6. y  cos x 7. y  cos x  c sin x. 8. y  cos x  c sin x.
2
x 
9. y   x  1 3 10. y  tan   11. y  sin h  c1 x  c2 
 4 
 x  c2  2
12. y  c1 cosh   13.  x  c1   y 2  c22 14. x  a   sin   , y  a 1  cos  
c
 1 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type : Integrand is of the form y 2  y '2  f ( x ) y or y 2  y '2  f ( x ) y or y '2  y 2  f ( x ) y

Example : Find the extremals of the functional I  y  x      y '2  y 2  4 y cos x  dx with
0

y  0   0, y    0 .
Solution : F  x, y , y '  y '2  y 2  4 y cos x, y (0)  y ( )  0
d
2 y  4cos x   2 y '  0
dx
  y  2cos x  y "  0  y " y  2cos x
A.E. D2 1  0  D  i
 C.F.  c1 cos x  c2 sin x
1
P.I.  2  2cos x  , (case of failure)
D 1
x
  2cos x   x sin x
2D
y ( x)  c1 cos x  c2 sin x  x sin x , y  0   0  c1  0
 y ( x)  c2 sin x  x sin x , y    0  c2  0   0
 c2 is arbitrary.
 y ( x)  (c  x) sin x
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Exercise 1.7

1. Find the extremals of the functional I  y  x     y  y '2  8 y cos h x  dx with y  0   2,
2

  
y    2cosh .
2 2

 
2. Find the extremals of the functional I  y  x     y'  y  2 xy  dx with y  0   0, y    0 .
2 2

0 2

 
3. Find the extremals of the functional I  y  x     y  y '2  2 y sin x  dx with y  0   0, y    1 .
2

0 2

  1
4. Find the extremals of the functional I  y  x     y'  y  4 y sin 2 x  dx with y  0   y    .
2 2

0 2 3

5. Find the extremals of the functional I  y  x     y  y '2  2 y e x  dx .
2


6. Find the extremals of the functional I  y  x     y  y '2  2 y sec h x  dx .
2

Answers
 x
1. y  x   2 cos h x 2. y  x   x  sin x 3. y  x   sin x  cos x
2 2
1 1 x
4. y  x    cos x  sin x  cos 2 x  1 5. y  x   c1e x  c2e  x  e x
3 3 2
6. y  x   c1 cosh x  c2 sinh x  x sinh x  cosh x log 2 cosh x

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Integrand contains all x, y, y ' and not of any of the above forms
e
Example : Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)]    xy '2  yy ' dx subject to the conditions
0

y (1)  0 , y (e)  1 .
Solution : F  x, y , y '   xy '2  yy ', y (1)  0, y (e)  1
d
y '  2 xy ' y   0
dx
 y ' 2 xy " 2 y ' y '  0  xy " y '  0
 x 2 y " xy '  0
 12

Put x  e z  z  log x
D2  D  D  0  D2  0  D  0,0
 y ( z )  c1  c2 z
y  x   c1  c2 log x , y 0  0  c1  0
 y ( x)  c2 log x , y e  1  1  c2  y ( x )  log x

Exercise 1.8
1
1. Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)]    y '2  12 xy  dx with y (0)  0 , y (1)  1 .
0
2
2. On what curves can be functional J  y  x      y '2  2 xy  dx; y 1  0, y  2   1 attain an
1

extremum ?
0

 12 xy  y '  dx
2
3. Find the stationary function of the functional I  y  x    which is determined by
1

the boundary conditions y  1  1, y  0   0 .

1

  y '  2 xy  dx that satisfy the conditions

2
4. Find the extremal of the functional J  y  x   
1

y  1  1, y 1  1.

x2

  a( x) y '  2b( x) yy ' c( x) y  dx is a second

2 2
5. Show that the Euler’s equation for the functional
x1

order linear differential equation.

Answers
x
1. y  x3 2. y 
6
1  x2  . 3. y   x 3

7 x3
4. y  x  5. a( x ) y '' a '( x) y '  b '( x )  c( x)  y  0
6 6
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Type : Invariance of Euler’s equation

x2

Example : Find the extremals of the functional I  y ( x)    1  y '2 dx .

x1

or
2
Find the extremals of the functional  r 2  r '2 d by using the transformations x  r cos and
1

y  r sin  .
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Solution : Let x  r cos  , y  r sin 

dx  cos  dr  r sin  d ……(1)
dy  sin  dr  r cos d ……(2)
dx dr d
 cos   r sin 
d d d
dy dr d
 sin   r cos 
d d d
dx dr
 cos   r sin  ……(3)
d d
dy dr
 sin   r cos  …….(4)
d d
Squaring and adding equation (3) and (4)
2 2 2
 dx   dy   dr  2 2 2
      r  r r'
 d    d   d  
x2 2 2 x2 x2 2
 dx   dy  2 2  dy 

     d    dx    dy  
 1    dx
x1
 d   d  x1 x1
 dx 
x2

1  y '2 dx


x1

y'
Let F  x , y , y '   1  y '2  Fy  0, Fy ' 
1  y '2

d  y'  d  y' 
0  0   0
dx  1  y '2  dx  1  y '2 
   
y' 1  y '2 1
Integrating both sides c   c
1  y '2 y' c

 1  y '2  y ' c  1  y ' 2  y '2 c 2   

1  y '2 c 2  1
1 1 dy
 y '2   y'   c1  say    c1
c 2
1  c2 1 dx


 dy   c dx 1  y  c1x  c2

 r sin   c1r cos   c2

 14

Exercise 1.9
2
1. Find the extremals of the functional I  r      r sin  r 2  r '2 d by using the transformations
1

x  r cos and y  r sin  .

log 2

 e y '2  e x y 2  dx, by using the transformations

x
2. Find the extremals of the functional I  y  x   
0

x  log u and y  v , where log 2  log e 2 .

x2

3. Find the extremals through  0,0  and 1,1 of I  y  x     y 2  y '2  x 2  dx by using the
x1

2 2
transformations x  u and y  v.

Answers
r cos 7 x  x4
 2
1. log r sin   r sin   c1 2 2
  c2 
c1
x
2. y  c1 cos e  c2 sin e x
3. y 
6
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type : Applications of Euler’s equation
Example : Show that the shortest distance between two points in a plane is straight line.
Solution : As we know that the shortest distance between two points in plane is
x2

I  y  x    1  y '2 dx

x1

y'
Let F  x , y , y '   1  y '2  Fy  0, Fy ' 
1  y '2

d  y' 
By Euler equation 0  0
dx  1  y '2 
 
y' 1  y '2 1
Integrating both sides c   c  1  y '2  y ' c
1 y ' 2 y' c
1
 1  y '2  y '2 c 2  
y '2 c 2  1  1  y '2  2
c 1
1 dy
 y'   c1  y '  c1   c1
c2 1 dx


 dy   c dx 1  y  c1x  c2

which is a required equation of a straight line.

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Exercise 1.10
1. Find the curve passing through the point  x1 , y1  and  x2 , y2  which rotated about the x-axis gives
a minimum surface area.
2. Find the path on which a particle in the absence of friction will slide from one point to another in
the shortest time under the action of gravity.

Answers
 x  c2 
1. y  c1 cosh   2. x  a   sin   , y  a 1  cos  
 c1 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Isoperimetric Problems
Isoparametric problem : The problem of finding closed curve of the given length which in closes
maximum area the called this problem as isoparametric problem.

Working Rules :
x2

(i) Suppose we wish to find a curve y=y(x) that gives extreme value of the functional  f ( x, y, y ') dx
x1

x2

keeping another integral  g ( x, y, y ') dx = constant.

x1

(ii) Let y  y ( x ) satisfy the boundary conditions y  x1   y1 and y  x2   y2 .

(iii) Let F  f ( x, y, y ')   g ( x, y, y ') where  is called Lagrange’s multiplier.
F d  F  d  d 
(iv) Euler’s equation     0 i.e fy  dx fy '   g y  dx g y   0
y dx  y '   
(v) We have to determine  and two constants of integration.
2 2
2
Example 1. Find the extremal of the functional  y' dx under the constraint  y dx  1 given y (0)  0
0 0

and y (2)  1 .
Solution : F  y '2   y, y (0)  0, y (2)  1
d 
  2 y '  0    2 y"  0  y" 
dx 2
  2
y ( x)  x 2  c1  c2 x , y 0  0  c1  0  y  x  x  c2 x
4 4
 16

1 
y  2  1  1    2c2  c2 
2
 2  1  
 y ( x)  x  x
4  2 
2 2
 2  1   
 y dx  1
0
   4 x
0

 2  
 x  dx  1

2
  x3  1    x 2 
  12   2  2   1
   0
8
  1     1  8  12  12  12   0
12
1 x
 y ( x)  x 
2 2
Example 2. Find the plane curve of fixed length having maximum area.
Solution : Let I be the fixed parimeter of a plane curve, between points x  x1 and x  x2 then
x2

1  y '2 dx
I

x1
……(1)

x2

Let A
 y dx
x1
……(2)

f  x, y , y '   y, g  x, y, y '  1  y '2

F  f  g  F  y   1  y '2
F F y'
  1, 
y y ' 1  y '2

F d  F  d  y' 
  0  1  0
y dx  y '  dx  1  y '2 
 

d  y' 
  1
dx  1  y '2 
 
y'
Now, integrating on both sides we get,  x  c1
1  y '2

Squaring both sides we get,  2

  x  c1 
2
 y' 2
  x  c1 
2

y'  
 x  c1 
2
 2   x  c1 
2
Integrating above equation we get, y    2   x  c1   c2
2
 y  c2    2   x  c1 
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 x  c1 2   y  c2 2   2 which is a circle.
Hence the curve is a circle.

Exercise 2.1

1
1. Find the external for which the functional I   y '2 dx , y (0)  0, y (1)  1 is extremum, subject to
0

1
the condition I   y dx  2.
0

1 1
2
2. Find the extremal of the functional  y ' dx ; y (0)  1 , y(1)  6 subject to the condition
0
 y dx  3
0

4
3. Prove that the extemal of the functional I [ y ( x)]   y '2 dx ; y (1)  3 , y (4)  24 subject to the
1
4
condition  y dx  36 is a parabola.
1
x2 x2
2
4. Find the extremal of the functional  y'
x1
dx subject to the condition  y dx  c , a constant.
x1

 
5. Find the extremal of the functional  ( y '2  y 2 ) dx under the constraint  y dx  1 ; y(0)  0 , y( )  1 .
0 0

6. Find all the functions y, that satisfy the conditions y (0)  y ( )  0 and which under the integral
 
2 2
I   y ' dx is stationary subject to the constraint y dx  1 .
0 0

1 1

  x  y '  dx under the constraint

2 2 2
7. Find the extremal of the functional y dx  2 ; y (0)  0 , y (1)  0 .
0 0

Answers
1. y   9 x 2  10 x 2. y  3 x 2  2 x  1

3 2c  c1  x2  x1   2c2  x2  x1  2
2 2
2
3. y  x  2 x 4. y  . x  c1x  c2
2 x23  x13
1 2  2
5. y 1  cos x   sin x 6. y   sin nx , n  7. y   2sin n x, n  
2 4 
 18

3. Variational Problems for functionals involving several dependent variables

x2

If I  y1  x  , y2  x  ,...., yn  x     F  x, y1 ( x ), y2 x,...., yn x, y1' ( x ), y2' ( x),...., yn' ( x)  dx then

x1

d
Euler’s equation is: Fy  0 where i  1, 2,...., n
Fyi 
dx i
d d d
i.e. Fy1  Fy   0, Fy2  Fy   0 ,...., Fyn  Fy   0
dx 1 dx 2 dx n
1
Example : Find the extremals of the functional I [ y ( x), z ( x )]    y '2  z '2  dx ; y (0)  0, z (0)  0,
0

y (1)  1 , z (1)  2
Solution : F  x, y, y ', z , z '   y '2  z '2 ; y (0)  0  z (0), y (1)  1, z (1)  2

F d  F  F d  F 
  0 and   0
y dx  y '  z dx  z ' 
d d
   2 y '  0 and   2 z '  0
dx dx
 y"  0 and z"  0
 y ( x)  c1  c2 x and z ( x )  c3  c4 x
y (0)  0  c1  0 and z 0  0  c3  0
y 1  1  c2  1 and z 1  2  c4  2
 y ( x)  x and z ( x)  2 x
 y ( x)  x and z ( x)  2 x

Exercise 3.1
1
1. Find the extremals of the functional I [ y ( x), z ( x )]    y '2  z '2  4 z  dx ; y (0)  0, z (0)  0,
0

y (1)  1 , z (1)  0
1 2 2
  dx   dy  
2. Show that the functional   2 x        dt s.t x(0)  1, y (0)  1, x (1)  1.5, y (1)  1 is
  dt   dt  
0 

2  t2
stationary for x  t   , y  t   1.
2

2
3. Find the extremals of the functional I [ y ( x), z ( x )]   ( y '2  z '2  2 yz )dx satisfying
0

   
y (0)  0, y    1, z (0)  0, z    1
2 2
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Page 19

2
4. Find the extremals of the functional I    x 2  y 2  2 xy  dt , such that at t  0, x  y  0 and at
0

 dx dy
t , x  y  1 where x  and y 
2 dt dt

5. Find the extremals of the functional I [ y ( x), z ( x )]    2 yz  2 y 2  y '2  z '2  dx ;
0

y (0)  0, y ( )  1, z (0)  0, z ( )  1
1
6. Find the extremals of the functional I [ y ( x), z ( x )]   1  y '2  z '2 dx ; y (0)  0, y (1)  2,
0

z (0)  0, z (1)  4
1
7. Find the extremals of the functional I    2 xy
  y 2  x 2  dt s.t. at t  0, x  y  1 and at
0

t  1, x  y  0

Answers

1. y  x   x and z  x   x 2  x 3. y  x   sin x and z  x    sin x .

 
4. x  t   y  t   cosec h   sin ht .
2
x 1
5. y  x   c3 sin x  cos x and z  x   c3 sin x  (2sin x  x cos x ) .
 
sinh(1  t )
6. z  x   4 x and y  x   2 x 7. x  t   y  t  
sinh1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Functional dependent on higher order derivatives

x2

If I   F  x, y, y ', y '',...., y ( n )  dx , then

x1

d d2 dn
Euler’s equation is: Fy 
dx dx dx
 
Fy '  2  Fy ''   .....  (1) n n Fy( n )  0 also known as Euler-Poisson

equation.
x2
d d2
Particular cases : If I   F  x, y, y ', y '' dx then Fy  Fy '  2 Fy ''  0 .
x1
dx dx
 20
x2
d d2 d3
If I   F  x, y , y ', y '', y '''  dx then Fy  Fy '  2 Fy ''  3 Fy '''  0 .
x1
dx dx dx
Example 1. Find the extremal of the functional
1
1 1
I  y ''2 dx ; y (0)  0, y (1)  , y '(0)  0, y '(1)  1 .
20 2
1 2 1
Solution : F  x, y , y '   y " , y (0)  0  y '(0), y (1)  , y '(1)  1
2 2
F d  F  d 2  F 
    0
y dx  y '  dx 2  y " 
d2  1 
   2 y "  0  y IV  0
dx  2 
 y ( x)  c1  c2 x  c3 x 2  c4 x 3 ……..(1)
y (0)  0  c1  0 ……..(2)
1 1
 y (1)   c2  c3  c4  ……..(3)
2 2
y '( x )  c2  2c3 x  3c4 x 2 ……..(4)
y '(0)  0  c2  0 ……..(5)
By equation (1), (2), (4) and (5) we get,
y ( x)  c3 x 2  c4 x3 …….(6)
y '( x)  2c3 x  3c4 x 2 …….(7)
Now, y '(1)  1  2c3  3c4  1 …….(8)
By equation (3) we get,
1
c3  c4  …….(9)
2
By equation (8) and (9) we get,
1
c4  0 and c3  …..(10)
2
x2
Hence the solution is y ( x) 
2
x2

  y ''  2 y '  y  2 y sin x  dx

2 2 2
Example 2. Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)] 
x1

2 2 2
Solution : F  y "  2 y '  y  2 y sin x
d d2
 2 y  2sin x    4 y '  2  2 y "  0
dx dx
y  sin x  2 y " y IV  0
 y IV  2 y " y  sin x
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Page 21
2
D 4  2 D 2  1   D 2  1  0  D 2  1, 1
 D  i ,  i
 C.F.   c1  c2 x  cos x   c3  c4 x  sin x
1
P.I.   sin x  case fails
 D  1
2

x 1
 sin x  x  sin x case fails
3
4D  4 D 4 D  D 2  1

x2 1 x2 1 x2
   sin x   sin x   sin x
2 12 D 2  4 2  12  4  16
x2
 y ( x)   c1  c2 x  cos x   c3  c4 x  sin x  sin x
16

Exercise 4.1
1
1. Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)]   1  y ''2  dx , y (0)  0, y '(0)  1, y (1)  1, y '(1)  1
0

x2

 4y  y ''2  2 x 2  dx
2
2. Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)] 
x1

x2

 16 y  y ''2  x 2  dx
2
3. Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)] 
x1

x2

  y ''  y  x 2  dx
2 2
4. Find the extremal of the functional
x1

5. Find the extremal of the functional


2
   
I [ y ( x)]    y ''2  y 2  x 2  dx ; y (0)  1, y '(0)  0, y    0, y '    1
0 2 2
6. Find the extremal of the functional

4
    1
I [ y ( x)]    y ''2  y 2  x 2  dx ; y (0)  0, y '(0)  1, y    y '   
0 4 4 2
x2

  360 x y  y ''2  dx
2
7. Find the extremal of the functional
x1

x2

y  2 y '2  y ''2  dx

2
8. Find the extremal of the functional
x1
 22
1
9. Find the extremal of the functional I    y '2  y ''2  dx ; y (0)  0, y '(0)  1, y (1)  sinh1, y '(1)  cosh1
0

1
 y '''2 
10. Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)]    yy '''  dx ; y (1)  y (0)  y (1)  0 ;
1 
2 
y '(1)  y '(0)  y '(1)  1
0
11. Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)]    480 y  y '''2  dx , y (0)  y '(0)  y ''(0)  0
1

12. Find the extremal of the functional

0

  240 y  y '''  dx ;
2
I y (1)  1, y (0)  0 ; y '(1)   4.5, y '(0)  0 ; y ''(1)  16, y ''(0)  0
1
x2

  2 xy  y '''  dx
2
13. Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)] 
x1

x2

14. Find the stationary function of the functional   y '2  yy ''  dx , subject to the conditions
x1

y  x1    , y '  x1    , y  x2    , y '  x2   

2 x
 y ''' 
15. Find the extremal of the functional   y   dx .
x1 
2 
x2

  y '''  y  2 yx3  dx
2 2
16. Find the extremal of the functional I [ y ( x)] 
x1

Answers
1. y  x 2. y  c1e x 2
 c2e  x 2
  
 c3 cos x 2  c4 sin x 2 
3. y  c1e 2 x  c2e 2 x  c3 cos 2 x  c4 sin 2 x 4. y  c1e x  c2 e x  c3 cos x  c4 sin x
5. y  cos x . 6. y  sin x
x6
7. y   c1 x3  c2 x 2  c3 x  c4 8. y   c1  c2 x  e x   c3  c4 x  e  x
2
3 x5  5 x 3
9. y  sinh x 10. y  x  .
2
x6 x6 x3
11. y    c1x 4  c2 x 5  c3 x 3 12. y   x4 
3 6 6
x7
13. y  c1  c2 x  c3 x 2  c4 x3  c5 x4  c6 x 6  14. No extremal 15. No extremal
7!
x 
 x 3  x 3   2x  x 3  x 3   3
16. y  c1e x  c2 e  x  e 2 c3 cos    c4 sin     e c5 cos    c6 sin     x
  2   2     2   2  
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Page 23

5. Functionals dependent on the functions of several independent variables

I  z  x  , z  y     F  x, y, z , z x , z y  dx dy where x,y are two independent variables , z is dependent

D

variable depending upon x and y and z x , z y are first order partial derivatives of z w.r.t. x and y
respectively.

 
Euler’s Equation is: Fz 
x
 
Fzx   
Fz  0
y y

  2 2 2
Euler’s Equation for 2nd derivative is : Fz 
x
 
Fzx 
y
     
Fz y  2 Fz xx  2 Fz yy  2 Fz xy  0
x y x y
 
 z 2  z  2 
Example : I  z  x, y          dx dy
x y
D      
Solution : F  z x 2  z y 2
   
Fz 
x
 
Fz x 
y y
 
Fz  0  0
x
 2 z x    2 z y   0
y
2 z  2 z
  0
x 2 y 2

Exercise 5.1

Obtain the Euler equation for the following functionals :

 z  2  z  2    2 z 2   2 z  2 2
 2 z  
1. I  z          dx dy 2. I  z     2    2   2    dx dy
D  x   y   D  x   y   x y  

Answers

2 z 2 z 4 z 2 4 z 4z
1.  0 2.   0
x 2 y 2 x 4 x 2 y 2 y 4
 24

6. Boundary Value Problems

Rayleigh-Ritz Method : The solution of Euler’s differential equation along with boundary conditions
amounts to extremising a certain definite integrals. This fact provides a technique of solving a boundary
value problem approximately by assuming a trial solution satisfying the given boundary conditions and
then extremising the integral whose integrand is found from the given differential equation.

To find approximate value of the boundary value problem

a  x  y " x   b  x  y '  x   c  x  y  x   f  x  …..(1)

such that y  x1   y1 , y  x2   y2 …..(2)

then,
x2

Step (i) : Construct a functional I  y  x      P  x  y '2  Q  x  y 2  R  x  y  dx …..(3)

x1

b
c 2 f  x
where P  x   e 
dx
a
Q x  P  x R  x  P  x
a a
Step (ii) : Now approximate y  x  using polynomial expressions which satisfies boundary conditions.

n
y   ci i  x  …..(4)
i 0

where i  x  are polynomial and i ' s  C 2 . Also 0  x  satisfies boundary conditions and all other
i ' s vanish on boundary points and ci ' s need to be determined.

Step (iii) : Put value of y from equation. Now differentiate I  y  x   partially w.r.t ci to get values of
I
ci . i.e.,  0 , will give values of ci ' s .
ci

Put these values of ci ' s in equation (4) to get y  x  .

Example 1 : Solve by BVP y " y  x  0 s.t. y  0   y 1  0 .

Solution : y " y  x  0 .….(1)

Such that y  0   y 1  0 …..(2)
Here a  1, b  0, c  1, f  x    x

0
c 1.1
P  x   e  1  e0  1
. dx
Q x  P x  1
a 1
2 f  x 2 x
R  x  . P x  .1  2 x
a 1
1
I  y  x      P  x  y '2  Q  x  y 2  R   y  dx
0
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Page 25
1
I  y  x      y '2  y 2  2 xy  dx ….(3)
0

F d  F 
where F  x   y '2  y 2  2 xy for which Euler’s equation   0
y dx  y ' 

d
 2 y  2x   2 y '  0  y  x  y"  0  y " y   x
dx
Let y  co  c1 x  c2 x 2 be the trial solution

y 0  0  c0  0

y 1  0  c1  c2  0  c2  c1  y  c1 x 1  x 
Put y in equation (3), we have
1
2 2
I  y  x       c1 1  2 x    c12 x 2 1  x   2 xc1x 1  x   dx
0
 
1
2 2
  c12 1  2 x   c12 x 2 1  x   2c1x 2 1  x   dx
 
0
1 1 1
2 2
 c12  1  2 x  dx  c12  x 2 1  x  dx  2c1  x 2 1  x  dx
0 0 0

1 1 1
 c12  1  4 x 2  4 x  dx  c12   x 2  x 4  2 x 3  dx  2c1   x 2  x3  dx
0 0 0

1 1 1
 24 x3 4 x 2  2x
3
x5 2 x 4   x3 x 4 
 c x    c    2c  
2  0
1 
4  0
1 1
 3 3 5  3 4 0
 4  1 1 1 1 1
 c12 1   2   c12      2c1   
 3  3 5 2 3 4
1 1  1 11 1
 c12     2c1 I  c12  c1
 3 30  12 30 6
dI 11 1 1 15 5
Now 0  2c1  0  c1   
dc1 30 6 6 11 22
5
Thus, the approximate y  x  
22
 x  x2 

Example 2 : Find the approximate solution of y " xy   x, y  0   y 1  0 and

F  x, y , y '  y '2  xy 2  2 xy .
 26
1
Solution : Here I  y  x      y '2  xy 2  2 xy  dx ……(1)
0

Let y  c0  c1x  c2 x 2 be the trial solution

y  0   0  c0  0

y 1  0  c1  c2  0  c1  c2

 y  c1  x  x 2 

Put value of y in equation (1), we get

1
2
I    c12 1  2 x   c12 x  x  x 2   2c1x  x  x 2   dx
2

0

1
  c12 1  4 x 2  4 x   c12  x 3  x5  2 x 4   2c1  x 2  x 3   dx
0

1 1 1
2 4 x3 4 x2  2 x
4
x 6 2 x5   x3 x 4 
c x
1    c1      2c1  
 3 2 0  4 6 5 0  3 4 0
 4  1 1 2 1 1
 c12 1   2   c12      2c1   
 3  4 6 5 3 4
1 1 1
 c12  c12  2c1
3 60 12
19 1
I  c12  c1
60 6
dI 19 1
Now 0  2 c1   0
dc1 60 6
1 30 5
 c1   
6 19 19

5
Thus approximate solution is y
19
 x  x2 

Note : Rayleigh-Ritz method can also be used to find smallest eigen value.

Example 3 : Find the approximate smallest eigen value  of

y "  y  0, y  0   y 1  0 and F  x , y , y '   y '2   y 2
1
Solution : Here, I    y '2   y 2  dx …….(1)
0

Let y  x   c0  c1 x  c2 x 2 be the trial solution

y 0  0  c0  0
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y 1  0  c1  c2  0  c1  c2

 y  c1  x  x 2 

Put value of y in equation (1), we get

1
2
I    c12 1  2 x    c12  x  x 2   dx
2
 
0

1
 c12  1  4 x 2  4 x   x 2   x 4  2 x5  dx
0

1
 4 x3 4 x 2  x3  x 5 2  x 4   4   
2
 c x       c12 1   2    
4  0
1
 3 2 3 5  3 3 5 2
1  
I  c12   
 3 30 
dI 1   1 
Now 0 2c1     0   0    10
dc1  3 30  3 30

  10 is the least approximate eigen value of the given differential equation.

Exercise 6.1
1. Solve the BVP y " y   x, such that y  0   y 1  0
2. Solve y "  1, y  0   y 1  0
1
1 
3. Find an approximate solution for the functional I  y  x      y '2  y  dx , s.t. y  0   y 1  0
0
2 
1
4. Find an approximate solution for the functional I  y  x      y '2  y 2  2 xy  dx such that
0

y  0   1, y 1  2

5. Find the least eigen value of y "  y  0, y '  0   0, y 1  0 .

Answers
5 1 2 1
1. y  x  
18
 x  x2  2. y  x  
2
 x  x 3. y  x  
2
 x  x2 

5
4. y  x   1  x 
4
 x  x2  5. least eigen value is 3.
 28

7. Weierstrass Function
x2

Let I  y  x     F  x, y , y ' dx be a functional with fixed boundaries i.e., y  x1   y1 and y  x2   y2 .

x1

Then Weierstrass function is defined as E  x, y, y ', p   f  x, y, y '   f  x, y, p    y ' p  f p  x, y , p 

dy
where p is the slope of the extremal. i.e., p  .
dx
Weierstrass function is used to check maxima /minima and strong / weak for a functional.

S. No. Sufficient Condition Nature of extremal of the given functional

1. E  0, for arbitrary y ' strong minima
2. E  0, for some y ' weak minima
3. E  0, for arbitrary y ' strong maxima
4. E  0, for some y '(close to p) weak maxima
1
 y '2 
Example 1 : Test for an extremum the functional I  y  x      x  2 y   dx ; y  0   y 1  0
0
2 

y '2
Solution : F  x, y , y '  x  2 y 
2

F d  F 
By Euler-Lagrange equation   0
y dx  y ' 

d
 2  y '  0  y " 2  0
dx
 y '  2 x  c1  y  x 2  c1x  c2

Now y  0   0  c2  0 , y 1  0  c1  1

 y  x2  x
Extremal is : y  x 2  x p  2x 1

Weierstrass function is :

E  x, y, y ', p   F  x, y, y '  F  x, y , p    y ' p  Fp  x, y , p 

y '2  p2 
E  x  2y    x  2y     y ' p  p
2  2 
1 2
E  x, y, y ', p  
2
 y '  p 2    y ' p  p
2
1  y ' p 
  y ' p  y ' p  2 p  
2 2
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Now E  0 for all y '

 This extremal y  x 2  x will give minimum value of the functional. This minima will be strong
minima.
x2

Legendre Condition : Let I  y  x     F  x, y , y ' dx be a functional with fixed boundaries P1  x1 , y1 

x1

2F
and P2  x2 , y2  . Let F  x, y , y '  possess a continuous partial derivative Fy ' y ' i.e., . Let C be the
y ' y '
curve of extremal of given functional which passes through P1 and P2 . Then, the following table
provides the sufficient conditions for the nature of the extremal of the given functional.

S.No. Sufficient Condition Nature of extremal of the given functional

1. fy' y'  0, at points close to C and for some y ' weak minima
2. f y ' y '  0, at points close to C and also for arbitrary y ' strong minima
3. f y ' y '  0,at points close to C and for some y ' weak maxima.
4. f y ' y '  0, at points close to C and for arbitrary y ' strong maxima.
1
 1 
Example 2 : Test for an extremum the functional I  y  x     e x  y 2  y '2  dx
0  2 
 1 
Solution : F  x, y , y '   e x  y 2  y '2 
 2 
F d  F 
Euler-Lagrange equation is   0
y dx  y ' 
d x
 ex  2 y 
dx
 e  y '  0  e x  2 y  e x y " e x y '  0

 e x  y  y "  0  y " y  0 e x
0 
A.E. is D 2  1  0
 D  1  y  c1e x  c2e  x
Now Fy '  e x y ' Fy ' y '  e x  0 , for all y '
It follows that on the curve C i.e., C : y  c1e x  c2e  x , a strong minima is attained.
Proper field, central field and field of extremals :
Proper field : A family of curves y  y  x, c  is said to form a proper field in a given region D of the
xy plane if one and only one curve of the family passes through every point of the region D. For
example, inside the circle x 2  y 2  1 , the family of parallel lines y  x  c ( c being an arbitrary
constant) forms a proper field since through any point of the above circle there passes one and only
 30
2
one straight line of the family. On the other hand, the family of parabolas y   x  c   1 inside the

same circle x 2  y 2  1 does not form a proper field since the parabolas of this family interest inside
the circle.

Central Field : If all the curves of the family y  y  x, c  pass through a certain point  x0 , y0  , i.e., if
they form a pencil of curves, then they do not form a proper field in the region D, if the centre of the
pencil  x0 , y0  belongs to D. However, if the curves of the pencil cover the entire region D and do not
intersect anywhere in this region, with the exception of the centre of the pencil  x0 , y0  , then the
family y  y  x, c  is said to form a central field.
For example, the pencil of sinusoids y  c sin x for 0  x  a, a   forms a central field. But the
above mentioned pencil of sinusoids forms a proper field in a sufficiently small neighbourhood of the
segment of x-axis for   x  a, where   0, a   . Again the above mentioned pencil of sinusoids
does not form a proper field in a neighbourhood of the segment of x-axis, for 0  x  a1 , a1   .

Extremal Field : If a proper field or a central field is formed by a family of extremals of a given
variational problem, then it is known as an extremals field.
a

  y '  y  dx
2 2
Example 1. Consider the functional I  y  x   
0
Let it be required to include the arc of the extremal y  0 that connects the points  0,0  and  a,0 
where 0  a   in the central field of extremals.
a

Solution : Comparing the given functional with

 F  x, y, y ' dx , we have
0
2 2
F  x, y , y '   y '  y …….(1)
F d  F 
Euler’s equation is   0 …….(2)
y dx  y ' 
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From (1),
F F
 2 y ,  2 y ' and
y y '
Using these values, (2) reduces to
 
2 y  2 y '  0 or D 2  1 y  0, where D  d / dx …….(3)
The general solution of (3) is y  c1 cos x  c2 sin x …….(4)
Since, the required extremal passes through  0,0  ,  4  yields, c1  0 and hence (4) yields.
y  c2 sin x …….(5)
And the curves of this pencil form as central field on the interval 0  x  a, a   including, for
c2  0, the extremal is y  0
dy  dy 
From (5),  c2 cos x so that c2    , showing that the parameter of the family of extremals
dx  dx  0,0 
dy
(5) can be taken as the value of at  0,0  . However, in the above problem, if a   , then the
dx
family of extremals (5) does not form an extremal field.

4

 y'  y 
2 2
Example 2. Find the proper and central fields of extremals for the functional  2 x 2  4 dx
0

4
2
 y2  2x2  4
Solution : Comparing the given functional with
 F  x, y, y ' dx , F  x, y, y '  y
0

F d  F  d  2 y '
 Euler’s equation   0  2 y  0
y dx  y '  dx
d2y d
dx 2  
 y  0 or D 2  1 y  0, where D 
dx
…….(1)

Auxiliary equation of (1) is D 2  1  0 so that D  1 and hence solution of (1) is given by

y  c1 cos x  c2 sin x, c1 and c2 being arbitrary constants …….(2)
(2) in the equation of the extremals.

For c2  0, (2) yields y  c1 cos x, which is a proper field of extremals in the domain 0  x  .
4
Again, for c1  0, (2) yields y  c2 sin x, which is a central field of extremals in the domain

0 x .
4
 32
2

  y '  sin x  dx, y  0   0, y  2   6 is

3 2
Example 3. Show that the extremal of the variational problem
0

included in a central field of extremals of the given functional.

2
3 2
Solution : Comparing the given functional with
 F  x, y, y ' dx, F  x, y, y '  y '  sin
0
x


F d  F 
 

f 3 y '2  0
Euler’s equation 0  0
y dx  y '  dx
dy
Integrating it, y '2  c12 or y '   c1, so that y  c1x  c2 …….(1)
dx
Where c1 and c2 are arbitrary constants.
(1) is the equation of the extremals. Using the given boundary conditions y  0   and y  2   6, (1)
gives
0  c2 and 6  2c1  c2 so that c1  3 and c2  0.
Therefore, (2),  y  3  x,  which is the extremal of the given variational problem.
For c2  0, (1) yields y  c1 x, which is a central field of extremals in the domain 0  x  2 with centre
at  0,0  . For c1  3, y  c1x reduces, to y  3x, showing that the extremal y  3 x is included in the
central field of extremals y  c1x .

Exercise 7.1
Test for an extremum the following functionals :
a
1. I  y  x     y '3 dx ; y  0   0, y  a   b, a  0, b  0
0

2
2. I  y  x      e y '  3 dx ; y  0   0, y  2   1
0
1
3. I  y  x     yy '2 dx ; y  0   4, y 1  4
0

Answers
1. Weak minima on extremal 2. strong minima 3. strong minima
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8. Variational Problems with moving Boundaries

x2

Let the functional I  y  x     F  x, y , y ' dx in which the boundary points are not specified, but are to
x1

be determined along the unknown function. i.e., x1 and x2 are not specified but  x1 , y1  and  x2 , y2 
lie on the curves. Suppose the boundary point  x2 , y2  moves along the curve y    x  . Then, the
sufficient condition to determine the extremals on which functional attains extremum is given by
F
F   ' y '   0 at x  x2
y '
which is known as transversality condition.
If the boundary point  x1 , y1  moves along the curve y    x  then as above transversality condition is.
F
F   ' y '  0 at x  x1
y '
Remark : 1. If  x2 , y2  moves along a vertical line, then transversality condition is  Fy '  0
x  x2

2. If  x2 , y2  moves along horizontal line, then transversality condition is  F  y ' Fy '  x x2  0

Moving boundary problems : An elementary problem with moving boundaries.
Let F  F  x, y , y '  be a three times differentiable function of its arguments and in the xy-plane.
Let there be two curves y    x  and y    x  ……(1)

where   x   C1  a, b  and   x   C1  a, b  .

We consider the functional J  y   F  x, y , y '  dx



……(2)

Defined on the smooth curves y  y  x  , the endpoints of which A  x0 , y0  and B  x1 , y1  lie on the
given curves (1) so that y0    x0  , y1    x1  . It is required to find the extremum of the functional (2).

Theorem : Let the curve  : y  y  x  extremize the functional J  y   F  x, y , y '  dx from among all


curves of the class C 1 joining two arbitrary points of two given curves y    x  , y    x  . Then the

 F   ' y '  Fy ' |x  x0  0, 

curve  is an extremal and the transversality conditions  …..(3)
 F   ' y '  Fy ' |x  x1  0 

are fulfilled at the endpoints A  x0 , y0  and B  x1 , y1  of the curve  .

Thus, to solve an elementary problem with moving boundaries it is necessary :
 34
(i) To write down and solve the appropriate Euler equations. We then obtain a family of extremals
y  f  x, c1, c2  that is dependent on two parameters c1 and c2 .

f  x0 , c1 , c2     x0  , 
(ii) From the transversality conditions (3) and from the equations  ……(4)
f  x0 , c1 , c2     x1  
to determine the constants c1 , c2 , x0 and x1 .
(iii) To compute the extremum of the functional (2).

Example 1. Find the transversality condition for the functional

x1
1
J  y  f  x, y  e tan y'
1  y '2 dx, where f  x, y   0

x0

Solution : Let the left end of the extremal be fixed at the

Point A  x0 , y0  and let the right end B  x1 , y1  be movable along the curve y    x  . We then get

 F   ' y ' Fy ' |x  x1  0

In our case
1
F  f  x, y  e tan y'
1  y '2
1 1 y '
Fy '  f  x, y  e tan y'

1  y '2
The transversality condition is :
 1 1 1 y ' 
 f  x, y  e tan y ' 1  y '2   ' y ' f  x, y  e tan y '  | x  x1  0
 1  y '2 
From this, by virtue of the condition f  x, y   0, we get
 ' y '
 1 ……(*)
1  ' y '
Geometrically, equation (*) signifies that the extremals y  y  x  must intersect the curve

y    x  , along which the boundary point B  x1 , y1  slides, at an angle
.
4
Actually, the relation (*) may be represented thus : suppose that the tangent to the extremal at the
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point B  x1 , y1  lying on the curve y    x  cuts the x-axis at an angle  , while the tangent to the
given curve y    x  cuts it at an angle  . Then tan   y ' , tan    ' and the left member of (*)
   
yields tan    x  ; but 1  tan    ; therefore      , whence     , which is what we
 4 4 4
set out to prove.
Example 2. Find the shortest distance between the point (1,0) and the ellipse
4 x 2  9 y 2  36 …..(1)

Solution : We have to find the shortest distance P1 1,0  and P2  x2 , y2  , where P2 lies on the ellipse
4 x 2  9 y 2  36 . The arc length PP
1 2 of the minimizing curve y  y  x  is given by

x2 1
I  y  x     1  y ' 
2 2
dx …..(2)
1

Where the end point P1 1,0  is fixed while the end P2  x2 , y2 

1 y  axis
lies on equation (1). Here F  1  y '2  2 . Since F is independence of
x and y. Euler’s equation is P2  x2 , y2 

F d  F  d  y' 
  0
y dx  y ' 


y'
C



0 
dx  1  y '2

y '  C 1  y '
2 2 2
0




P
o (1,0) x  axis

1  y '2
C2
 y '2  2
 c12  y '  c1
1 C
 y  c1 x  c2 ……(3)
which is a straight line along which the required shortest distance is attained.

 Equation (3) passes through P1 1,0 

 c1  c2  0  c2  c1
 Equation (3) becomes y  c1  x  1 ……(4)
Also it passes through  x2 , y2  .
 y2  c1  x2  1
2
Now, from equation (1), y  9  x 2     (say)
3
 36

2 x 2 x
 ' x  
3 9  x2 3 9  x2
Here, end point P2  x2 , y2  lies on (1), i.e., 4 x22  9 y22  36 …..(5)
Now, by using transversality condition for   x  , we get
 F   ' y '  Fy '  0
x  x2

  2 x  1 2y ' 
  1  y '2    y '    0
 2 1 y '
2 2
 3 9 x  x  x
2

2c1 x2 c12
 1  c12   0  y '  c1 
3 1  c12 9  x22 1  c12
1  c12  c12 2c1x2
  0
2
1 c 1 3 1  c12 9  x2
2c1 x2 1
   2c1 x2  3 9  x22
2 2 2
3 1 c 1 9 x 1 c 1

 4c12 x22  9  9  x22  ……(6)

Now, from equation (4) and (5), we get
2
4 x22  9c22  x2  1  36
2
 9c12  x2  1  36  4 x22
2
 9c12  x2  1  4  9  x22  ……(7)
Dividing equation (6) and (7), we get
4 x22 9 x2 9 9
2
    x2 
9  x2  1 4 x2  1 4 5
From equation (6), we get
81  81 
4c12  9 9    c12  4  c1  2
25  25 
From equation (4), we get
9  8 9 8
y2  2   1   P2  x2 , y2   P2  , 
5  5 5 5
2 2
9  8  16 64 4 5
 Required shortest distance is    1    0    
5  5  25 25 5
x1
2
Result : For the functional of the form J  y   h  x, y  1   y '  dx where h  x, y   0 at the

x0

1 1
boundary points, the transversality conditions are of the form y '  x    and y '  x    .
 ' x  ' x
That is, the transversality conditions reduced to orthogonality conditions.
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Exercise 8.1

1. Find the shortest distance between the parabola y  x 2 and the straight line y  x  5 .
2. Find the shortest distance from the point A  1,5  to the parabola y 2  x .

3. Find the shortest distance between the circle x 2  y 2  1 and the straight line x  y  4 .
4. Find the shortest distance between the point A  1,3 and the straight line y  1  3 x .

5. Find the shortest distance between  0,1 and y  x 2 .

6. Find the shortest distance between  0,0  and x  y  2 .

7. Find the shortest distance between y  x 2 and x  y  3 .

Answer
19 2 1 3 11
1. 2. 20 3. 2 2  1 4. 5. 6. 1 7.
8 10 2 4 2
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----------------- S C Q ---------------- 3. y " 2 y  0 4. 2 y " y  0

(GATE 2010)
1. The functional 4. The extermum for the variational problem
1 
2 2
  y '   y  2 y ' y " kxyy ' y  dx, 8
2
0   y '  2 yy ' 16 y 2  dx,

0
y  0   0, y 1  1, y '  0   2, y ' 1  3 is
 
y  0   0, y    1,
path independent, if k equals 8
1. 1 2. 2 occurs for the curve
3. 3 4. 4
1. y  sin  4 x  2. y  2 sin  2 x 
(GATE 2012)
1  cos  8 x 
2. Assume F to be a twice continuously 3. y  1  cos  4 x  4. y 
2
differentiable function. Let J  y  be a
(GATE 2007)
functional of the form 5. Let I be the functional defined by
1 
 F  x, y ' dx,0  x  1 defined on the set of  dy  2
2 
0 I  y  x        y 2  dx ;
0  dx  
all continuously differentiable functions y
on  0,1 satisfying y  0   a, y 1  b . For  
y  0   0; y    1 where, the unknown
2
some arbitrary constant C, a necessary
function y  x  possesses two derivatives
condition for y to be an extremum of J is
F F  
1. C 2. C everywhere in  0,  . Then,
x y '  2

F 1. the functional has an extremum which

F
3. C 4. 0
y x cannot be achieved in the class of

(GATE 2011) continuous functions.

3. The Euler’s equation for the variational 2. the corresponding Euler’s equation have

problem Minimize a unique solution satisfying the given

1 boundary conditions.
I  y  x      2 x  xy  y ' y ' dx, is 3. I is not linear.
0
4. I is linear.
1. 2 y " y  2 2. 2 y " y  2
(GATE 2006)
 2
6. Extremals for the variational problem 1
1  y '2
2
J  y   dx with
x
 
v  y  x     y 2  x 2 y '2 dx satisfy the 0

1 y  0   1, y 1  2 . Then, for some arbitrary

differential equation
constant c, y satisfies
2
1. x y " 2 xy ' y  0
2
 
1. y '2 2  c 2 x 2  c 2 x 2
2. x y " 2 xy ' y  0
2. y '2  2  c 2 x 2   c 2 x 2
3. 2 xy ' y  0

4. x 2 y " y  0 3. y '2 1  c 2 x 2   c 2 x 2

(GATE 2004)
4. y '2 1  c 2 x 2   c 2 x 2
7. Extremals y  y  x  for the variational
(GATE 2011)
1
2 10. The extremal of the functional
problem v  y  x      y  y ' dx satisfy
0 1
 2 y '2 
the differential equation   y  x  4  dx, y  0   0, y 1  0 is
0 
1. y " y  0 2. y " y  0
3. y " y '  0 4. y ' y  0
 
1. 4 x 2  x 
2. 3 x 2  x 
(GATE 2003) 3. 2 x2  x  4. x 2  x
1

 y' 
8. The functional 2
 4 y 2  8 ye x dx (GATE 2009)
0 11. The possible values of  for which the
4 4e variational problem,
y  0    , y 1  
3 3 1
possesses  
J  y  x     3 y 2  2 x3 y ' dx, y    1 has
0
1
1. strong minima on y   e x extremals are
3
4 1. 1,0 2. 0, 1
2. strong minima on y   e x
3 3. –1, 1 4. –1, 0, 1
1 (GATE 2008)
3. weak maxima on y   e x
3 1

 y' 
2
4 12. The functional  x3 dx, given
4. strong maxima on y   e x 0
3
(GATE 2012) y 1  1 , achieves its

9. On the interval [0, 1], let y be a twice 1. weak maximum on all its extremals.
continuously differentiable function which 2. strong minimum on all its extremals.
is an extremal of the functional 3. weak maximum on some but not on all
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its extremals. 1
 d2y 
15. The functional I  y  x      y  2  dx,
4. strong minimum on some but not on all  dx 
0
its extremals.
defined on the set of functions C 2 [0, 1]
(GATE 2008)
 dy 
1 satisfying y  0   1, y 1  1,   0
2  dx  x 0
13. The functional  1  x  y ' dx, y  0   0,
0
 dy 
and    1
y 1  1 , possesses  dx  x 1
1. strong maxima 1. only one extremal
2. strong minima 2. exactly two extremals
3. weak maxima but not a strong maxima 3. infinite number of extremals
4. weak minima but not a strong minima 4. no extremals
(GATE 2007) (GATE 2006)
1 16. The extremum of the functional
 dy 
14. Let I  y  x     F  x, y ,  dx, satisfying
dx  1 2 
0   dy 
I      12 xy  dx satisfying the
y  0   0, y 1  1 where, F has continuous 0 dx  

second order derivatives with respect to its conditions y  0   0 and y 1  1 is

arguments and the unknown function y  x  attained on the curve

x x
possess two derivatives everywhere in (0, 1. y  sin 2 2. y  sin
2 2
1). If the function F depends only on x and
1 3 x
dy 3. y  x 3 4. y   x  sin 
, then the Euler’s equation is an 2 2 
dx
ordinary differential equation in y which, in (GATE 2005)

general, is 17. The extremals for the functional

x1
1. first order linear
  xy ' y '  dx are given by the
2
v  y  x   
2. first order non-linear x0

3. second order linear following family of curves

4. second order non-linear
 x2 
(GATE 2006) 1. y  C1  C2 x   
 4 
 
 4

 x2  2. Euler-Lagrange equation
2. y  1  C1x  C2  
 4  3. Gauss equation
 
4. None of the above
 x2 
3. y  C1  x  C2   21. If P and Q be two points in the xy-plane
 4 
 
and P and Q be two points and y  x  be a
 x2 
4. y  C1  C2 x   
 4  curve with P   a, y  a   and
 
(GATE 2004) Q   b, y  b   . The arc length of the curve
18. The functional y  x  is given by the integral
2
2 b
v  y  x      y '  6 xy  x3  dx, 2
0
  1.  1  y  x   dx
a
y  0   0, y  2   2 can be extremized on b
2
the curve 2.  1   y '  x   dx
a
1. y  x 2. 2 y  x3 b
2
3
3. y  x  6 x 4. 2 y  x  2 x3 3.  1   y '  x  dx
a
(GATE 2003) b
2
19. An extremal of the functional 4.  1   y  x   dx
a
b
 dy 
I  y  x     F  x, y ,  dx ; 22. Rayleigh-Ritz method is used to
a 
dx 
1. find maxima
y  a   y1, y  b   y2 satisfies Euler’s 2. find minima
equation, which is general 3. solve boundary value problems
1. is a second order linear ordinary 4. None of the above
differential equation (ODE). 23. The necessary condition for the integral
2. is a non-linear ODE of order greater x2

than two.  H dx to be an extremum is

x1
3. admits a unique solution satisfying the
H   H 
conditions y  a   y1, y  b   y2 . 1.   0
y x  y ' 
4. may not admits a solution satisfying the H   H 
2.   0
conditions y  a   y1, y  b   y2 . x y  x 

(GATE 2002) H   H 
3.   0
20. The minimizing curve must satisfy a y ' x  y 
differential equation, called as H d  H 
4.   0
1. Lagrange’s equation y ' dx  x 
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24. Necessary condition for y b

2. x  c cosh
t2 c
I  F  t , x, x, x  dt to be an extremum is 3. y  x cosh
x a
t1
b
that ya
4. x  y cosh
f d  F  b
1.   0
x dx  x  2
27. In the equation H  f   g , where  H dx
f d  F  d 2  F  1
2.     0
x dt  x  dt 2  
x
to be an extremum,  is called as
f d  F  d 2  F  1. Isoperimetric constant
3.     0
x dt  x  dt 2  x 
2. Kernel’s
f f  F  3. Lagranges multiplier
4.   0
x t  x 
4. Green’s function
25. The extremals of the functional 28. Extremal of the isoperimetric problem
a
 1 2 4
   y  2  y "  dx which satisfies the v  y  x     y '2 dx, y 1  3 , y  4   24
a
1
boundary conditions y   a   0, 4

y '   a   0, y  a   0 , y '  a   0 is
subject to the condition  y dx  36 is
1

 2 2 1. a parabola 2. straight line

1. y  


x a  3. a circle 4. a hyperbola
 2 1
2. y  
24

x2  a 2  29. Function y  x  for which x
2

 y '2 dx is
0
 2
3. y 
24 

a2  x2  1
2
stationary ; given that y dx  2;
 2 0
4. y 
24 

x  a2  y  0   0 y (1)  0 is
26. Equation of the curve which gives 1. y  sin m x 2. y  2sin m x
minimum surface of revoulution about any
3. y  4sin m x 4. y  3sin m x
axis say y-axis is
x b
1. y  c cosh 30. Curve on which the functional
c
 6
 d  f  f
2 33. Equation  f  y'  is
 y'  dx  y '  x

 y 2  2 xy dy with y  0   0 and
0 1. Hamilton’s equation
  2. Euler’s equation
y    0 , be extremized is
2 3. Liouville’s equation
 4. Bessel’s equation
1. y  sin x
2
34. The variational problem of extremizing the

2. y  x  sin x 2  d  2 
2 functional I  y  x      y   y 2  dx;
0  dx  
 2
3. y  x  sin x
2 y  0   1, y  2   1 has
 1. a unique solution
4. y   sin x
2
2. exactly two solutions
31. Solution of boundary value problem
3. an infinite number of solutions
y "  3 x  4 y ; y  0   0, y 1  1 is 4. no solution
x (CSIR NET June 2011)
1. y  5x  4 
2 35. The variational problem of extremizing the
x 3
2. y   5 x  1 functional I  y  x     y  3 x  y  dx ;
4
1

x
3. y   5 x  1 1
3 y  3  4 , y 1  1 has
2
x 1. a unique solution
4. y   5 x  1
4
2. exactly two solutions

32. A function y  x  such that 2
dx  1 3. an infinite number of solutions
y
0 4. no solution
 (CSIR NET June 2012)
2
which makes  y " dx a minimum, if 1
 u2 
36. Let J  u    u x2  4  xdx , where u  x  is a
0
0  x2 
y  0   0  y   , y "  0   0  y "   is
smooth function defined on [0, 1] satisfying
1. y  an cos nx, n  0,1, 2,3,...
u  0   0 and u 1  1 . Which of the
2. y  an sin mx, m  0,1, 2,3,....
functions minimizes J ?
3. y  an sin nx, n  0,1, 2,3,.... 1. u  x   x 2
an 1 2
4. y  , n  0,1, 2,3,... 2. u  x   x
sin nx 2
1
3. u  x   x 2
2
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Page 7

1 1
4. u  x   x 2 4. y  x   1  x2
4 2
(CSIR NET Dec 2012) (CSIR NET Dec 2014)
37. Consider the functional 40. The functional
b b
J  y    F  x, y , y ' dx where I  y  x      y 2  y '2  2 y sin x  dx , has the
a a

F  x, y , y '   y ' y for admissible functions following extremal with c1 and c2 as

y. Then J has arbitrary constants.

1. no extremals. 1
1. y  C1e 2 x  C2 e 2 x  sin x
2
2. several extemals.
1
3. y  x   e  x as an extremal. 2. y  C1e x  C2 e  x  sin x
2
4. y  x   constant as an extremal. 1
3. y  C1e x  C2 e  x  sin x
2
(CSIR NET Dec 2013)
1
38. The curve extremizing the functional 4. y  C1e 2 x  C2 e 2 x  cos x
2
2
2 1   y ' x   (CSIR NET Dec 2015)
I  y   dx y 1  0, y  2   1 is
1
x 41. The curve of fixed length l, that joins the
1. an ellipse points (0, 0) and (1, 0), lies above the x-
2. a parabola axis, and encloses the maximum area
3. a circle between itself and the x-axis, is a segment
4. a straight line of
(CSIR NET June 2014) 1. a straight line. 2. a parabola.
39. Consider the functional 3. an ellipse. 4. a circle.
1
(CSIR NET June 2016)
J  y   y 2 1   y '2  x  dx, y  0   1
0 2
42. If J  y    ( y '2  2 yy ' y 2 ) dx, y (1)  1 and
Where y  C 2 0,1 . If y extremizes J then
1
1 y (2) is arbitrary then the extremal is
1. y  x   1  x2
2
1. e x 1 2. e x 1
1
2. y  x   1  x
2 3. e1 x 4. e  x1
1 (CSIR NET Dec 2016)
3. y  x   1  x
2
 8
1
2 ----------------- M C Q ----------------
43. The infimum of   u ' t   dt on the class of
0
1. A necessary condition for

functions u  C1  0,1 such that u  0 
x2

 I  y  x     f  x, y, y ' dx to be an
 0 and max u  1 is x1
0,1 
extremum is/are
equal to
f d  f 
1 1.   0
1. 0 2. x dy  x ' 
2
3. 1 4. 2 f d  f 
2.   0
y dx  y ' 
(CSIR NET June 2017)
f d  f 

44. Let X  u  C 1  0,1 u  0   u 1  0 and  3.   f  y'
x dx 
0
y ' 
1
f  2 f 2 f 2 f
2
define J : X   by J  u   e u ' x  dx .

0
4. 
y xy '
 y'
yy '
 y" 2  0
y '
1. J does not attain its infimum 2. Consider the functional
2. J attains its infimum at a unique u  X 1

3. J attains its infimum at exactly two v  y  x   

x2

1  y '2  2
dx, then
 x
elements u  X x1

4. J attains its infimum at infinitely many 1

uX following/s is/are valid ; if F 

1  
y'2 2

x
(CSIR NET Dec 2017)
1
F
1.  constant
2 y '
45. Consider J  y    y '   2 y  dx subject
  
0 F
2. F  y '  constant
to y  0   0, y 1  1 . Then inf J  y  y '

23 21 3. extremal of the given functional is a

1. is 2. is
12 24 circle
18 4. extremal is a straight line
3. is 4. does not exist
25 3. Consider the functional
(CSIR NET June 2018) 1
 
I   2 x  x '2  y '2 dt such that
0

x  0   1, y  0   1, x 1  15, y 1  1 .

Assuming F  2 x  x '2  y '2 . Then,

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Page 9

1. for extremum of I y  x2  x
F d  F  3. Weak maximum on the function
    0 and
x dt  x ' 
y  x2  x
F d  F 
  0 4. Strong maximum on the function
y dt  y ' 
2. x "  1, y "  0 y  x2  x

3. x "  0, y "  1 6. The weak minimum of the functional

2
2 x3
t
4. x  1  , y  1 I  y  x     dx, y 1  1, y  2   4
2 1
y '2
1 attained on the curve
 
4. Let I   y '2  y 2 dx . Then, select the
1. y  x 3 2. y  x2
0

correct option/s 3. y  x3  x 4. None of these

1. if y  0   0, y 1  0, then extremal is 1

 y' 
2
7. The functional  x 2 dx, y 1  1
y  x   sin x 0

2. if y  0   0, then extremal is y  x   1 achieves its

1. weak maximum on all its extremals
3. if y (0)  0 , y (1)  1, then extremal is
2. strong minimum on all its extremals
sin x
y  x  3. weak maximum on some, but not on all
sin1
of its extemals.
4. extremal is y  x   0, if end y (0)  0
4. strong minimum on some, but not on all
and y (1)  1 conditions are not of its extremals.
specified. b
8. Consider the functional J   F  x, y, y '  dx
5. The functional a

1
 1  where F  x, y , y '  1  y 2  / y '2 for
I  y  x      x  2 y  y '2  dx
0
2 
admissible functions y  x  . Which of the
y  0   0, y 1  0 has following are extremals for J ?
1. Weak minimum on the function 1. y  x   A sin  x 
y  x2  x 2. y  x   A sinh  x   B cosh  x 
2. Strong minimum on the function 3. y  x   A sinh  Ax  B 
 10

4. y  x   A sin  x   B cos  x  (CSIR NET June 2015)

(CSIR NET Dec 2012) 12. Let y  y  x  be the extremal of the

x 2
2
x2 2
9. The extremal of 1 t 3 dt; x 1  3, x  2   18 functional I  y  x    
 dy 
1    dx ,
x1  dx 
dx
(where x  ) using Lagrange’s equation subject to the condition that the left end of
dt
is given by which of the following ? the extremal moves along y  x 2 , while the

1. x  t 4  2 right end moves along x  y  5 .

15 3 6 Then the
2. x  t 
7 7 1. shortest distance between the parabola
2
3. x  5t  2
 19 2 
4. x  5t  3 3 and the straight line is   .
 8 
(CSIR NET June 2013)
 3
2. slope of the extremal at  x, y  is    .
10. Let y  C 2
0,  satisfying y  0   y     0  2

2 3 
and  y  x  dx  1 extremize the functional 3. point  ,0  lies on the extremal.
0 4 

2 dy 4. extremal is orthogonal to the curve
J  y     y '  x   dx; y '  . Then
dx
0 x
y .
2 2
1. y  x   sin x
 (CSIR NET June 2016)

2. y  x   
2
sin x 13. Let y  y  x  be the extremal of the

x2 2
 dy 
3. y  x  
2
cos x functional I  y  x     1    dx ,
 x1  dx 

2 subject to the condition that the left end of

4. y  x    cos x
 the extremal moves along y  x 2 , while the
(CSIR NET Dec 2014)
right end moves along x  y  5 .
11. The extremal of the functional
Then the
x1
2
I   y 2  y '  dx that passes through (0, 0) 1. shortest distance between the parabola
0
 19 2 
and  x1 , y1  is and the straight line is   .
 8 
1. a constant function
 3
2. a linear function of x 2. slope of the extremal at  x, y  is    .
 2
3. part of a parabola
3 
4. part of an ellipse 3. point  ,0  lies on the extremal.
4 
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Page 11

4. extremal is orthogonal to the curve and the right end B  x1, y1  be movable
x
y . (CSIR NET June 2016) along the curve y    x  . Then the
2
1 extremal y  y  x  intersects the curve
2 2
14. The functional J [ y ]   ( y '  x ) dx where
0 y    x  along which the boundary point

y (0)  1 and y (1)  1 on y  2 x  1, has B  x1, y1  slides at an angle

1. weak minimum  
1. 2.
2. weak maximum 3 2
3. strong minimum  
3. 4.
4. strong maximum 4 6

(CSIR NET Dec 2016) (CSIR NET June 2017)

15. Let y ( x) be a piecewise continuously 17. Let I : C 1  0,1   be defined as
differentiable function on [0, 4]. Then the 1
1
 u ' t   4 u  t  dt 
2 2 2
4 I  u  :
2
functional J [ y ]   ( y ' 1)2 ( y ' 1)2 dx 0

0 Let us set
attains minimum if y  y ( x ) is
 P  m: inf I  u :u  C1  0,1:u  0   u 1  0
x
1. y  0 x4 Let u  C1  0,1 satisfy the Euler-Lagrange
2
Equation associated with  P  . Then
 x 0  x 1
2. y  
x  2 1  x  4 1. m   i.e. I is not bounded below

 2 x, 0 x2 2. m  , with I  u   m
3. y  
  x  6, 2  x  4 3. m  , with I  u   m
 x, 0 x3
4. y   4. m  , with I  u   m
  x  6, 3  x  4
(CSIR NET Dec 2017)
(CSIR NET Dec 2016)
16. Consider the functional 
18. Let X  u  C 1  0,1 | u  0   0 and let 
x1
I : X   be defined as
I  y  x    f  x, y  1  y '2 e tan 1 y ' dx
x0 1

 u ' t   u t   dt
2 2
I u  
where f  x, y   0 . Let the left end of the 0

extremal be fixed at the point A  x0 , y0  Which of the following are correct ?

 12
1. I is bounded below
2. I is not bounded below
3. I attains its infimum
4. I does not attain its infimum
(CSIR NET Dec 2017)
19. The admissible extremal for
log 3
x
J  y  y '2  2e x  y ' y   dx
 e
0

where y  log 3  1 and y  0  is free is

1. 4  e x 2. 10  e 2 x

3. e x  2 4. e 2 x  8
(CSIR NET June 2018)
20. The extremal of the functional
1
2
J  y 
 y '  x  dx subject to
0

y  0   0, y 1  1 and
 y  x  dx  0 is
0

1. 3 x 2  2 x

2. 8 x3  9 x 2  2 x
5 4 2
3. x  x
3 3
21 5 5
4. x  10 x 4  4 x3  x
2 2
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Page 1

SCQ 45. 1
1. 2
2. 2 MCQ
3. 2 1. 2,3,4
4. 1 2. 1,3
5. 2 3. 1,3
6. 1 4. 3
7. 2 5. 1,2
8. 2 6. 2
9. 3 7. 2
10. 4 8. 1,2,3,4
11. 3 9. 1
12. 2 10. 1,2
13. 2 11. 3
14. 1 12. 1,3
15. 4 13. 1,3
16. 3 14. 1,3 or 3
17. 4 15. 2,4
18. 4 16. 3
19. 4 17. 2
20. 2 18. 1,3
21. 2 19. 1,3
22. 3 20. 1
23. 1
24. 2
25. 2
26. 2
27. 3
28. 1
29. 2
30. 2
31. 2
32. 3
33. 2
34. 3
35. 4
36. 1
37. 1
38. 3
39. 2
40. 2
41. 4
42. 3
43. 3
44. 2