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A new definition of variational derivative

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 April 2009

Eugene P. Hamilton
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics, Washington College, Chestertown, Maryland 21620, USA.
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Abstract

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It is shown that the functional fails to possess a variational derivative, contrary to what is claimed by Gelfand and Fomin. A modified definition is given with respect to which the functional does possess a variational derivative.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Australian Mathematical Society 1980

References

[1]Gelfand, I.M., Fomin, S.V., Calculus of variations (translated by Silverman, Richard A.. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1963).Google Scholar
[2]Voterra, Vito, Theory of functionals and of integral and integro-differential equations (Blackie & Son, London, 1931; reprinted, Dover, New York, 1959).Google Scholar