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MA 6583 Calculus of Variations

Description:

Classical problems, such as geodesics, brachistochrones, isoperimetric problems. Euler equations. Geodesic coverings. Weierstrass condition. Hamilton-Jacobi equation. First and second variations. Transversality. Convex sets and functions. Duality. Existence theorems. Generalized curves. Control theory. Time-optimal problems. Optimal processes. Extension of elementary theory of maxima and minima. Euler equations, conditions of Weierstrass, Legendre, and Jacobi; Mayer fields; Hamilton-Jacobi equations; transversality; conjugate and focal points. Applications to geodesics, minimal surfaces, isoperimetric problems, Hamilton's principle, Fermat's principle, brachistochrones.

Credits: 3:0:0:3
Pre-requisite: MA 4623 or MA 6223
Co-Requisite: none
Notes: none
 
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