An introduction to the variational methods used to formulate and solve mathematical and physical problems, allowing the reader an insight into the systematic us

The calculus of variations, whose origins can be traced to the works of Aristotle and Zenodoros, is now Ii vast repository supplying fundamental tools of explor

This textbook offers a concise yet rigorous introduction to calculus of variations and optimal control theory, and is a self-contained resource for graduate stu

The calculus of variations is used to find functions that optimize quantities expressed in terms of integrals. Optimal control theory seeks to find functions th

Functional analysis owes much of its early impetus to problems that arise in the calculus of variations. In turn, the methods developed there have been applied