Derive the Euler-Lagrange equation for the integral
∫abf(x,y,y′,y′′)dx
where prime denotes differentiation with respect to x, and both y and y′ are specified at x=a,b.
Find y(x) that extremises the integral
∫0π(y+21y2−21y′′2)dx
subject to y(0)=−1,y′(0)=0,y(π)=coshπ and y′(π)=sinhπ.
Show that your solution is a global maximum. You may use the result that
∫0πϕ2(x)dx⩽∫0πϕ′2(x)dx
for any (suitably differentiable) function ϕ which satisfies ϕ(0)=0 and ϕ(π)=0.