Calculus of Variations The idea: Our goal in calculus of variations is to find the path, curve, surface, etc.

which allows our

given function to achieve a stationary value (we want to maximize or minimize the function).

The problem: Today we are going to be looking at one of the most basic of the variation problems. We
are going to find/prove that the shortest distance between any two points (in Euclidean space) is in fact a straight line.

Heres how:
First we will create a path from point A to point B and call it y(x). Then we will create a different path and call it v(x). Let v(x) be completely arbitrary except for two things: 1) v(x) is defined to be 0 at both Ax and Bx and 2) v(x) is continuous. We will now define a new path Y(x)=y(x)+v(x) where is a perimeter that when set equal to zero allows Y(x)=y(x) which is our desired extreme.

Now we want to use the idea that L= 1+ = Arc length, where = , to find the distance between our points A and B. Because we are trying to find the shortest distance between our points we should try minimizing L. To do this we will rely on the same tools we learned in calc 1/3.

o We want to find

= 0 when =0

Now recall setting =0 means replacing Y(x) with y(x) ( )v ( ) o So = =0 Now using integration by parts which we learned in calc 2 and setting our result equal to zero we get:

o Differentiating Y yields ( ) = ( ) + v (x) o Then

= v ( )

, when differentiating under the integral sign.

The first term becomes 0 because we defined v(x)=0 at A and B. ( ) o We are left with =0

=0

v(x)

( )

=0

Because v(x) is arbitrary, we want this equality to hold true for all values of v(x). This means we need to force = 0 so no matter the function v(x) our integral is still always zero. Solving = 0 implies that = = . This is because the only way the derivative can always be zero is if the original function was a constant. Finally we can see that that =

o or that o o

Thus the shortest distance between two points is in fact a straight line! Other applications Finding the shortest time to travel between two points on the earth. Finding the fastest/optimal path for a light ray to travel. Finding the shape of a hanging rope when gravity is acting uniformly Many more

= (1 + ) or = = . = = +