1

MATH 4525, Applied Analysis, Spring 2013

Solutions to Homework 10
Problem 5, p. 184185
Find the extremals for the following functionals.
(b.)
J[y] =

y(0) = 1 ,



e2 x (y )2 y 2 dx ,
y(3) free .

(c.)
J[y] =

1

1
y(0) = ,
2


1 2

(y ) + y y + y + y dx ,
2
y(1) free .

(e.)
J[y] =

(y )2 dx + y(1)2 ,
0

y(0) = 1 ,

y(1) free .

Solution: The functional in part (b.) is described by the Lagrangian



L = e2 x (y )2 y 2 .

(1)

We immediately evaluate

L
= 2 e2 x y ,
y
L
= 2 e2 x y ,
y


d L
= 4 e2 x y + 2 e2 x y ,
dx y

(2)

where as usual

dy
d2 y
,
y =
.
dx
dx2
Hence the Euler-Lagrange equation for the functional in (b.) becomes


L
d L

= 0,
y
dx y
y =

2x

2 e

2x

y 4e

2x

y 2e

y = 0.

(3)

(4)

MATH 4525, Applied Analysis, Spring 2013

The second equation in (4) can be simplified to read

y + 2 y + y = 0 .

(5)

This equation is second-order, linear, with constant coefficients. The associated

characteristic equation is then
m2 + 2 m + 1 = (m + 1)2 = 0 ,

(6)

implying
m =

1 , 1 .

(7)

As we indicate, the characteristic equation has m = 1 as a repeated, real root.

In this situation, the general solution for y is given by
y(x) = A ex + B x ex .

(8)

The term proportional to x appears as a result of the repeated root.

We now impose the standard boundary condition at x = 0. Thus
y(0) = A = 1 ,

(9)

y(x) = ex + B x ex .

(10)

so the solution becomes

The boundary condition at x = 3 is free. Since the functional J[y] is given by the
integral of a Lagrangian, the free boundary condition at x = 3 is equivalent to
the boundary condition

L 
= 0.
(11)

y 
x=3

Explicitly via (2), the free boundary condition becomes

 2 x  
2e y 
= 0,
=

x=3

(12)

y (3) = 0 .

On the other hand, from the form of the solution in (10),

y (x) = ex + B ex B x ex ,

(13)

so the free boundary condition in (12) implies

y (3) = e 3 + B e3 3 B e3 = 0 ,

(14)

MATH 4525, Applied Analysis, Spring 2013

or

1
(15)
B = .
2
As a result, the extremal for the functional in (b.) with the given boundary
conditions is finally
1 2 B = 0

y(x) = ex

1 x
xe .
2

(16)

For the functional in (c.), we determine the extremal in the same fashion. The
associated Lagrangian is given by
L =
with derivatives

1 2
(y ) + y y + y + y ,
2

(17)

L
= y + 1 ,
y
L
= y + y + 1 ,
y


d L
= y + y .
dx y

(18)

Hence the Euler-Lagrange equation becomes



L
d L

= 0,
y
dx y




=
y + 1 y + y = 0 ,

(19)

= y = 1 .

We immediately integrate the last equation in (19) to obtain the general form for
the extremal
1
(20)
y(x) = x2 + A x + B ,
2
for some constants A and B.
We now impose the boundary conditions at x = 0 and x = 1 to fix A and B. At
x = 0, the boundary condition implies
y(0) = B =

1
.
2

At x = 1, the natural boundary condition is given by




L 

=
0

y
+
y
+
1
= 0.


y 
x=1
x=1

(21)

(22)

MATH 4525, Applied Analysis, Spring 2013

Hence



1 2

= 0,
x + Ax + B + 1 
(x + A) +

2
x=1


1
+ A + B + 1 = 0,
= (1 + A) +
(23)
2
5
= 2 A + B = ,
2
3
= A = ,
2
where we used the prior result B = 1/2 in solving for A. With these values for A
and B, the extremal in (c.) is finally


3
1
1 2
x x+ .
2
2
2

y(x) =

(24)

The functional in (e.) is given by

J[y] =

(y )2 dx + y(1)2 .

(25)

Because of the term y(1)2 in J[y], we cannot simply use the Lagrangian to
determine the natural boundary condition at x = 1. Instead, we take a step
backwards and compute the first variation
Z 1  
dh
dy
dx + 2 y(1) h(1) .
(26)
J[y; h] = 2
dx
dx
0
As usual, we apply the integration-by-parts formula to the integrand in J to
rewrite the first variation as


Z 1 2
dy 1
d y
J[y; h] = 2
h 2
h dx + 2 y(1) h(1) ,
2
dx 0
dx
0
(27)


Z 1 2
d y
dy
h dx .
= 2 (1) h(1) + 2 y(1) h(1) 2
2
dx
0 dx
In passing to the second line of (27), we recall that h(0) = 0 for any admissible h
which preserves the fixed boundary condition y(0) = 1.
The extremal is determined by the condition J[y; h] = 0 for all admissible h.
For variations h which satisfy h(1) = 0, this condition implies the standard
Euler-Lagrange equation, here given by
d2 y
= 0
dx2

y(x) = A x + B ,

(28)

MATH 4525, Applied Analysis, Spring 2013

for some constants A and B. On the other hand, for variations with arbitrary
h(1), the vanishing of J in (27) also implies that the coefficient of h(1) vanishes
identically, or
dy
(29)
2 (1) + 2 y(1) = 0 .
dx
Hence the natural boundary condition at x = 1 for the given function is just
dy
(1) + y(1) = 0 .
dx

(30)

We now use the boundary conditions at x = 0 and x = 1 to determine the

extremal. At x = 0,
y(0) = B = 1 .

(31)

With the natural boundary condition at x = 1,

dy
(1) + y(1) = A + (A + B) = 0 ,
dx

(32)

so that

B
1
= .
2
2
Hence the particular extremal in (e.) is given by
A =

(33)

1
y(x) = x + 1 .
2

(34)

Problem 8, p. 184185
Find the natural boundary condition at x = 2 associated with the functional
Z 2h
i
(x + 1)2 (y )2 + x y y 2 dx .
J[y] = (1 3 y(2))2 +
0

Solution: The functional J[y] here takes the general form

J[y] = F (y(2)) +

with

L x, y, y dx ,

F (y(2)) = (1 3 y(2))2 ,


L x, y, y = (x + 1)2 (y )2 + x y y 2 .

(35)

(36)

MATH 4525, Applied Analysis, Spring 2013

If the function F were absent, the natural boundary condition at x = 2 would be

given by L/y (2) = 0, as we discussed in class. However, in this problem we
must also incorporate F into the natural boundary condition.
To examine the role of F in determining the natural boundary condition at
x = 2, we compute the first variation for the general functional J[y] in (35),

Z 2
L
L dh
F
(2) h(2) +
h+
dx .
(37)
J[y; h] =
y
y
y dx
0
We use the integration-by-parts formula to shift the derivative d/dx from h in
the second term of the integral, so that J becomes




Z 2
L
F
L 2
d L
J[y; h] =
(2) h(2) +
h +

h dx ,
y
y 0
y
dx y
0
L
L
F
(2) h(2) +
(2) h(2)
(0) h(0) +
=

y
y
y


Z 2
L
d L
(38)
+

h dx ,
y
dx y
0


L
L
F
(2) +
(2) h(2)
(0) h(0) +
=

y
y
y


Z 2
L
d L
+

h dx .
y
dx y
0
We now consider setting
J[y; h] = 0 ,

(39)

for all admissible h. For variations with h(0) = h(2) = 0, the boundary terms in
(38) automatically vanish, and the vanishing of the remaining integral over x for
all h implies the standard Euler-Lagrange equation


d L
L

= 0.
(40)
y
dx y
Otherwise, if the boundary condition at x = 2 is free, then h(2) is arbitrary, and
the vanishing of J implies that the coefficient of h(2) in (38) also vanishes,
F
L
(2) +
(2) = 0 .
y
y

(41)

So for general F and L, the natural boundary condition at x = 2 is given by

(41). As an aside, if we were to impose the natural boundary condition at x = 0
as well, we would similarly set
L
(0) = 0 .
y

(42)

MATH 4525, Applied Analysis, Spring 2013

For the given F and L, we compute

=
Hence

F
(2) = 6 (1 3y(2)) = 18 y(2) 6 ,
y
L
= 2 (x + 1)2 y + x ,

y
L
(2) = 18 y (2) + 2 .
y

F
L
(2) +
(2) = 18 y (2) + 18 y(2) 4 ,
y
y

(43)

(44)

and the natural boundary condition in (41) is given explicitly by

9 y (2) + 9 y(2) 2 = 0 .

(45)

Problem 1, p. 203204
Find extremals of the isoperimetric problem
Z
(y )2 dx ,
J[y] =
0

y(0) = y() = 0 ,

subject to the constraint

Z

y 2 dx = 1 .

Solution: In this problem, the isoperimetric constraint implies the vanishing of

the functional
Z
y 2 dx 1 .
(46)
K[y] =
0

To determine the extremal(s) of J subject to the condition

K[y] = 0 ,

(47)

we introduce a Lagrange multiplier and form the total functional

F [y, ] = J[y] + K[y] ,
Z
 2

=
(y ) + y 2 dx .
0

(48)

MATH 4525, Applied Analysis, Spring 2013

We then extremize F [y, ] with respect to both the path y (now unconstrained!)
and the variable .
Let us introduce the Lagrangian F associated to the functional F ,
F = (y )2 + y 2 .

(49)

To extremize F with respect to the path y, we just impose the Euler-Lagrange

equations that follow from F, so that


F
d F

= 0.
(50)
y
dx y
Here

F
= 2y ,
y
F
= 2 y ,
y


d F
= 2 y .
dx y

(51)

Thus the Euler-Lagrange equation for y becomes

d2 y
y = 0.
dx2

(52)

The nature of the solutions to (52) depends very much on the sign of . If > 0,
then the general solution takes the exponential form
 
 
y(x) = A exp x + B exp x .
(53)

On the other hand, if < 0, then the general solution takes the oscillatory form

(54)
y(x) = A sin( x) + B cos( x) ,
= .
Since the Lagrange multiplier is arbitrary at the moment, we must consider
both possibilities for the extremal y(x).

The extremal y(x) depends on the multiplier and the integration constants A
and B. These three constants will be determined by the two boundary conditions
y(0) = 0 and y() = 0, along with the isoperimetric constraint K[y] = 0. We first
consider imposing the boundary conditions at x = 0 and x = . If > 0 so that
the general extremal takes the exponential form in (53), we see that
y(0) = A + B = 0

B = A .

(55)

MATH 4525, Applied Analysis, Spring 2013

Similarly at x = ,
 
 
y() = A exp A exp = 0

A = 0.

(56)

But y(x) = 0 is not consistent with the isoperimetric constraint K[y] = 0. So no

extremal exists for > 0.
On the other hand, if < 0, the boundary condition at x = 0 implies that the
constants A and B in the oscillatory solution (54) satisfy
y(0) = B = 0 .

(57)

The boundary condition at x = then becomes

y() = A sin( ) = 0 .

(58)

Since the isoperimetric constraint requires A 6= 0, we impose the usual eigenvalue

condition to solve the equation in (58),
= n
=
=

for some integer n 6= 0 ,

= n,
2

(59)

= = n .

(Note that if n = 0 above, then y(x) = 0 for all x, and we cannot satisfy the
isoperimetric constraint.) Thus the extremals are given by the eigenfunctions
yn (x) = An sin(n x) ,

integers n 6= 0 ,

(60)

for some normalization constants An .

We are left to fix the normalization constants An so that the isoperimetric
constraint is satisfied. For each yn , the isoperimetric constraint is given by
Z
Z
2
2
yn dx = An
sin2 (n x) dx = 1 .
0

(61)

The definite integral in (61) can be evaluated by elementary means, using the
trig identity sin2 () = 1/2 1/2 cos(2). Alternatively, we can use the following
trick. We first make the elementary substitution u = nx, so that
Z
sin2 (n x) dx ,
I =
0
Z
(62)
1 n 2
=
sin (u) du .
n 0

10

MATH 4525, Applied Analysis, Spring 2013

Since sin2 (u) + cos2 (u) = 1 for all u, we have

Z
1 n
1 du ,
=
n 0
Z n
 2

1
=
sin (u) + cos2 (u) du ,
n 0
= 2I .

(63)

In the final line of (63), we recognize that the respective integrals of sin2 (u) and
cos2 (u) over the range from 0 to n must be equal (think about the graphs of
sine and cosine). Hence the total integral in (63) is just twice the integral I in
(62) which we want to compute. Thus,
Z

n 6= 0 ,
(64)
sin2 (n x) dx = ,
I =
2
0
and the isoperimetric constraint in (61) becomes
A2n

= 1
2

An =

2
.

(65)

So we obtain an infinite family of extremals yn (x) labelled by an integer n 6= 0,

with
r
2
yn (x) =
sin(n x) ,
n 6= 0 .
(66)

Since we find an infinite family of extremals, let us finally examine how the
functional J depends on the parameter n. Clearly,
Z
(yn )2 dx ,
J[yn ] =
0
Z
2 2
(67)
n cos2 (n x) dx ,
=
0
= n2 ,
where we use that

cos2 (n x) dx =

,
2

(68)

exactly as for (64). In particular, the absolute minimum of J, subject to the

isoperimetric constraint, is obtained for n = 1. For n2 > 1, the extremals yn (x)
are at best constrained local minima of J.

11

MATH 4525, Applied Analysis, Spring 2013

p
z

Figure 1: Helical segment on the cylinder.

Problem 6
Let p and q be two points on a right circular cylinder with unit radius. Show
that the shortest path from p to q is a segment of a helix.
Solution: We first determine the arclength functional for paths on the cylinder.
We naturally work in cylindrical coordinates (, z), where is an angular
coordinate running from 0 to 2, and z is a vertical coordinate. See Figure 1 for
a sketch of the cylinder, along with a typical helical segment connecting two
points p and q. Since we assume that the cylinder has unit radius, the standard
Cartesian coordinates x and y are related to the angle by
x = cos() ,

y = sin() ,

(69)

implying
dx = sin() d ,

dy = cos() d .

(70)

12

MATH 4525, Applied Analysis, Spring 2013

The line element on the cylinder is then given by

p
ds = dx2 + dy 2 + dz 2 ,
q
= sin2 () d 2 + cos2 () d 2 + dz 2 ,
p
= d 2 + dz 2 ,
s
 2
dz
.
= d 1 +
d

(71)

We now specify the path from p to q by means of a function z(), which satisfies
the boundary conditions
z(0 ) = z0 ,

z(1 ) = z1 ,

(72)

where we assume that p and q have cylindrical coordinates (0 , z0 ) and (1 , z1 ).

Using the description (71) of the line element ds in cylindrical coordinates, we
see that the length J[z] of the path z() is finally given by
 
Z 1 s
Z 1
dz
d .
(73)
ds =
J[z] =
1+
d
0
0
To find the shortest path from p to q, we must extremize the functional J[z] in
(73) over paths z() with the given endpoints. As we have seen, the extremal
path satisfies the Euler-Lagrange equation associated to the Lagrangian
p
dz
.
(74)
L = 1 + (z )2 ,
z
d
Since L does not depend on z, only z , the Euler-Lagrange equation in this case
reduces to


d L
= 0,
d z
#
"
z
d
p
= 0,
=
(75)
d
1 + (z )2
=

1 + (z )2

= A,

for some constant A. We immediately solve for z in terms of A, so that

p
z = A 1 + (z )2 ,


= (z )2 = A2 1 + (z )2 ,


=
1 A2 (z )2 = A2 ,
A
dz
.
=
=
d
1 A2

(76)

13

MATH 4525, Applied Analysis, Spring 2013

z
q

Figure 2: Line in the -z plane.

Since A is an arbitrary constant, the result in (76) simply says that
dz
= m,
d

(77)

for some constant m. Integrating with respect to , we find

z() = m + b ,

(78)

for another constant b. The boundary conditions in (72) then fix m and b to be
m =

z1 z0
,
1 0

b =

z0 1 z1 0
.
1 0

(79)

Let us interpret the result in (78) geometrically. Since z depends linearly on ,

the extremal curve z() is just a straight line in the plane spanned by and z, as
in Figure 2. Indeed, the arclength functional J[z] on the cylinder in (73) takes
precisely the same form as the arclength functional for paths in the x-y plane,
and we have already shown in class that the shortest paths in the plane are
straight lines y = m x + b. So if the cylinder is cut vertically and unrolled,
meaning we ignore the angular identification + 2, the shortest path
connecting p and q is just a straight line. By definition, a helix (ie. spiral) on the
cylinder is just the image of a line in the -z plane, so the shortest path in (78) is
a segment of a helix.

14

MATH 4525, Applied Analysis, Spring 2013

g
l

m
Figure 3: Vertically accelerating pendulum.

Problem 7
A simple pendulum of length and bob with mass m is attached to a massless
support which moves vertically upward with constant acceleration a (all in a
uniform gravitational field with acceleration g). Write down the Lagrangian L
which describes this pendulum, and use L to determine the equations of motion.
What is the frequency for small oscillations about the equilibrium position
= 0? Can you interpret this result physically?
Solution: We depict the vertically accelerating pendulum in Figure 3. In
general, the Lagrangian L is given by the difference of the kinetic energy T and
the potential energy V of the pendulum,
L = T V.

(80)

As usual, if the bob has Cartesian coordinates (x, y), the kinetic energy is given
by


m 2
x + y 2 ,
(81)
T =
2
and the potential energy is given by
V = mgy.

(82)

15

MATH 4525, Applied Analysis, Spring 2013

These Cartesian coordinates are related to the angular coordinate by

x = sin() ,
1
y = a t2 cos() .
2

(83)

Here we automatically incorporate the uniform upwards acceleration a of the

pendulum in determining the relation of y to . So according to (83),
x = cos() ,
y = a t + sin() ,
implying

(84)

x 2 = 2 cos2 () 2 ,

2
y 2 = a t + sin()

(85)

Hence the kinetic energy T is given in terms of by


m  2 2
+ 2 a t sin() + a2 t2 .
T =
2

(86)

= a2 t2 + 2 a t sin() + 2 sin2 () 2 .

More directly, the potential energy V is given in terms of by



1 2
V = mg
a t cos() .
2

(87)

Thus, the Lagrangian L is given in terms of by

L = T V,



m  2 2
1 2
2 2

=
+ 2 a t sin() + a t mg
a t cos() .
2
2

(88)

From the Lagrangian in (88), we easily write the Euler-Lagrange equations of

motion. We first differentiate L with respect to and ,

L
= m a t cos() m g sin() ,

L
= m 2 + m a t sin() ,

 
d L
= m 2 + m a sin() + m a t cos() .
dt

(89)

MATH 4525, Applied Analysis, Spring 2013

16

The Euler-Lagrange equation for the classical trajectory (t) then becomes
 
d L
L

= 0,

dt
h
i
=
m a t cos() m g sin()
(90)
h
i
2
m + m a sin() + m a t cos() = 0 ,
=

m 2 + m a sin() + m g sin() = 0 ,

or most succinctly,
(a + g)
sin() = 0 .
+

(91)

To determine the frequence for small oscillations, we expand the nonlinear term
sin() about = 0,
sin() = + O( 3 ) ,
(92)
so that the (accelerating) pendulum equation of motion in (91) becomes
(a + g)
+ O( 3 ) = 0 .
+

Ignoring the terms of order 3 , this equation describes an oscillator with

frequency
r
a+g
.
=

(93)

(94)

This result has a very interesting physical interpretation. We see from the
equation in (91) that the pendulum which is accelerating upwards in a uniform
gravitational field g behaves exactly like a pendulum whose pivot is stationary
but is swinging in a uniform gravitational field of strength a + g. Equivalently, a
stationary pendulum at the surface of the Earth behaves exactly like a weightless
pendulum in a rocket ship in space which undergoes a uniform acceleration
a = g. This result is an example of Einsteins equivalence principle in general
relativity: a uniform gravitational field is equivalent to a uniformly accelerating
frame of reference.

Problem 8
A pendulum consists of a mass m suspended by a massless spring with
unextended length 0 and spring constant k (all in a uniform gravitational field

MATH 4525, Applied Analysis, Spring 2013

17

with acceleration g). Write down the Lagrangian L which describes this
pendulum, and use L to determine the equations of motion. Hint: Recall that if
the spring is stretched to length , then the potential energy of the spring is
given by
1
V () = k ( 0 )2 .
2
Can you interpret physically each term in the equations of motion?
Solution: The pendulum on a spring is again described by the diagram in
Figure 3 (with a = 0), but the length of the pendulum is no longer fixed and
will change as the spring oscillates. Nonetheless, in terms of the Cartesian
coordinates (x, y) of the bob, the kinetic energy of the pendulum is still given by
T =

m 2
x + y 2 .
2

(95)

The coordinates x and y are related to and by

x = sin() ,
y = cos() .
Hence

x = sin() + cos() ,
y = cos() + sin() ,

(96)

(97)

where we now differentiate both and with respect to the time t. So in terms
of (, ), the kinetic energy is given by
i
m h 2 2
sin () + 2 sin() cos() + 2 cos2 () 2 +
T =
2
i
m h 2
+
cos2 () 2 sin() cos() + 2 sin2 () 2 ,
(98)
2 h
i
m 2
=
+ 2 2 .
2
In this problem, the potential energy V receives two contributions, from the
gravitational potential energy of the bob and from the potential energy of the
spring. So
1
V = m g y + k ( 0 )2 ,
2
(99)
1
= m g cos() + k ( 0 )2 .
2
Hence the Lagrangian L is given in terms of (, ) by

18

MATH 4525, Applied Analysis, Spring 2013

L = T V,
i
m h 2
1
=
+ 2 2 + m g cos() k ( 0 )2 .
2
2

(100)

The equations of motion which describe the pendulum on the spring are then the
Euler-Lagrange equations for and ,
 
d L
L

= 0,

dt
 
(101)
d L
L

= 0.

dt
Here, since L is a functional of both (t) and (t), we must impose a separate
Euler-Lagrange equation for each variable. We now compute the derivatives
appearing in (101),
L
= m g sin() ,

L
= m 2 ,

 
d L
= 2 m + m 2 ,
dt

(102)

L
= m 2 + m g cos() k ( 0 ) ,

L
= m ,

 
d L
= m ,
dt

(103)

=
as well as

where we are again careful to differentiate both and with respect to t. The
Euler-Lagrange equation for then becomes
h
i
m g sin() 2 m + m 2 = 0 ,
(104)

or more succinctly,

+ 2

g
+ sin() = 0 .

(105)

MATH 4525, Applied Analysis, Spring 2013

19

Similarly, the Euler-Lagrange equation for is given by

m 2 + m g cos() k ( 0 ) m = 0 ,

(106)

k
+
( 0 ) 2 g cos() = 0 .
m

(107)

or

The terms in (107) have a fairly straightforward physical interpretation. We

recognize the term proportional to k as the restoring force from the spring, the
term proportional to g as the component of the gravitational force along the
spring, and the term proportional to 2 as the centrifugal force on the spring.
We also note that the signs of the terms in (107) are such that both the
gravitational and centrifugal forces act to stretch the spring, as expected.
Similarly for the terms in the equation of motion (105) for , we recognize the
standard gravitational term proportional to g. However, we also find a term
proportional to which is relevant even in the absence of gravity (g = 0). To
we note that the angular momentum L of the
interpret the term involving ,
pendulum is given by

L = m 2 .
(108)
Clearly,

d  2 
dL
,
= m
dt
dt
= 2 m + m 2 .

(109)

Note that since is not fixed, dL/dt involves not only the angular acceleration ,
Hence the equation of
but also a term involving and the angular velocity .
motion in (105) can be rewritten in terms of dL/dt as
dL
= m g sin() ,
dt

(110)

which is Newtons equation expressing the change in angular momentum caused

by the applied gravitational torque.

Problem 9
Find the extremal of the functional
J[y] =

2

y(0) = 0 ,


dy 2
dt ,
dt
y(2) = 1 ,

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MATH 4525, Applied Analysis, Spring 2013

subject to the isoperimetric constraint

Z 2
y dt = 2 .
0

Solution: The isoperimetric constraint here is equivalent to the vanishing of the

functional
Z 2
y dt 2 .
(111)
K[y] =
0

As in Problem 1 on p.203204, we introduce a Lagrange multipler and consider

the total functional
F [y, ] = J[y] + K[y] ,
Z 2
 2

=
y + y dt 2 ,
0
Z 2
F dt 2 ,
F = y 2 + y .
=

(112)

To find an extremal for J subject to the isoperimetric constraint K[y] = 0, we

now look for an unconstrained extremal of the total functional F .
We first solve the Euler-Lagrange equation derived from F in (112). Evaluating
derivatives, we find
F
= ,
y
F
= 2 y
y



d F
= 2 y .
dt y

Hence the Euler-Lagrange equation for y becomes



d F
F

= 0,
y
dt y
= 2 y = 0 ,

= y = .
2

(113)

(114)

The general solution to the final equation in (114) is immediately

y(t) =
for some constants A and B.

2
t + At + B ,
4

(115)

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MATH 4525, Applied Analysis, Spring 2013

We now impose the boundary conditions on y(t). First, from the boundary at
x = 0, we obtain
y(0) = B = 0 .
(116)
Next, from the boundary at x = 2,
y(2) = + 2 A = 1

A =

1
.
2

(117)

So the general solution y(t) is given in terms of the multiplier by

y(t) =

2
(1 )
t +
t.
4
2

(118)

We are left to fix the multiplier itself using the isoperimetric constraint
F
= K[y] = 0 ,

or

(119)

y dt = 2 .

(120)

Substituting for y from (118), we evaluate

Z 2
Z 2
2
t
y dt =
4
0
0

3
t +
=
12
2
= + (1
3

= 1 .
3

the preceding integral directly,


(1 )
+
t dt ,
2

(1 ) 2 2
,
t
4
0

(121)

) ,

So to satisfy the isoperimetric constraint in (120), we set

1

= 2
3

= 3 .

(122)

The constrained extremal y(t) in (118) is then given by

3
y(t) = t2 + 2 t .
4

(123)