chapter 9, section 3.

4 Mary Boas book, second edition

by Nasser Abbasi

Problem
R x2 p
Write and solve the Euler equation to make the following integral stationary x1
y y 02 + y 2 dx

Solution
p
Let F (x; y; y 0 ) = y y 02 + y 2

Since F does not depend on x, we change the integration variable to y

1
Let y 0 = x0

dx
dx = dy dy

R y2 q R y2 p
1
Hence the intgral becomes y1
y x02 + y 2 x0 dy = y1
y 1 + x02 y 2 dy
p
Now F (y; x0 ) = y 1 + x02 y 2

d @F @F d @F @F
The Euler equation changes from dx @y 0 @y = 0 to dy @x0 @x =0

@F
@x = 0 since F does not depend on x;Hence the Euler equation reduces to

d @F
=0
dy @x0

p 0
y2 0
y3
@F
@x0 = @
@x0 y 1 + x02 y 2 = y px = px
1+x02 y 2 1+x02 y 2

Hence

!
d x0 y 3
p =0
dy 1 + x02 y 2

0
y3
Hence p x = C where C is some constant
1+x02 y 2

p
x0 y 3 = C 1 + x02 y 2
x02 y 6 = C 2 1 + x02 y 2
x02 y 6 = C 2 + C 2 x02 y 2
02 6
x y C 2 y2 = C2
C2
x02 =
(y 6 C 2 y2 )
C
x0 p=
y4 C 2 y
Z Z
1
dx = C p dy
y y 4 C2
So the solution is (using Mathematica)

p !
1 2iC + 2 C 2 + y4
ax= i log
2 y2