Euler–Lagrange equation.docVIP

Euler–Lagrange equation From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search In calculus of variations, the Euler–Lagrange equation, or Lagranges equation, is a differential equation whose solutions are the functions for which a given functional is stationary. It was developed by Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler and Italian mathematician Joseph Louis Lagrange in the 1750s. Because a differentiable functional is stationary at its local maxima and minima, the Euler–Lagrange equation is useful for solving optimization problems in which, given some functional, one seeks the function minimizing (or maximizing) it. This is analogous to Fermats theorem in calculus, stating that where a differentiable function attains its local extrema, its derivative is zero. In Lagrangian mechanics, because of Hamiltons principle of stationary action, the evolution of a physical system is described by the solutions to the Euler–Lagrange equation for the action of the system. In classical mechanics, it is equivalent to Newtons laws of motion, but it has the advantage that it takes the same form in any system of generalized coordinates, and it is better suited to generalizations (see, for example, the Field theory section below). Contents 1 History 2 Statement 3 Examples 3.1 Classical mechanics 3.1.1 Basic method 3.1.2 Particle in a conservative force field 3.2 Field theory 4 Variations for several functions, several variables, and higher derivatives 4.1 Single function of single variable with higher derivatives 4.2 Several functions of one variable 4.3 Single function of several variables 4.4 Several functions of several variables 4.5 Single function of two variables with higher derivatives 5 Notes 6 References 7 See also History The Euler–Lagrange equation was developed in the 1750s by Euler and Lagrange in connection with their studies of the tautochrone problem. This is the problem of determining a curve on which a weighted particle will fall to a fixed