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  • Variational Formulation of Distance

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    Shameem Xs
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    The Euclidean distance between two points can be written as the minimum value of an integral representing the length of the trajectory between the points. This variational formulation finds the optimal trajectory that minimizes the integral, which in Euclidean space is simply a straight line. In non-Euclidean spaces defined by a metric, the integrand is modified to account for the curvature of the space, but similarly finds the optimal path between points.

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    Variational formulation of distance

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    The Euclidean distance between two points can be written as the minimum value of an integral representing the length of the trajectory between the points. This variational formulation finds the optimal trajectory that minimizes the integral, which in Euclidean space is simply a straight line. In non-Euclidean spaces defined by a metric, the integrand is modified to account for the curvature of the space, but similarly finds the optimal path between points.

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    25 views1 page

    Variational Formulation of Distance

    Uploaded by

    Shameem Xs
    The Euclidean distance between two points can be written as the minimum value of an integral representing the length of the trajectory between the points. This variational formulation finds the optimal trajectory that minimizes the integral, which in Euclidean space is simply a straight line. In non-Euclidean spaces defined by a metric, the integrand is modified to account for the curvature of the space, but similarly finds the optimal path between points.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    Variational formulation of distance[edit

    The Euclidean distance between two points in space ( minimum value of an integral:

    source | editbeta]
    and ) may be written in a variational form where the distance is the

    Here

    is the trajectory (path) between the two points. The value of the integral (D) represents the length of this trajectory. The distance is the where is the optimal trajectory. In the familiar Euclidean case (the above integral)

    minimal value of this integral and is obtained when

    this optimal trajectory is simply a straight line. It is well known that the shortest path between two points is a straight line. Straight lines can formally be obtained by solving the Euler-Lagrange equations for the above functional. In non-Euclideanmanifolds (curved spaces) where the nature of the space is

    represented by a metric

    the integrand has be to modified to

    , where Einstein summation convention has been used.

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