ABSTRACT
Variational methods can be classified into two groups: direct and indirect methods. The direct method is the classical Rayleigh-Ritz method, while the indirect methods are collectively referred to as the method of weighted residuals: collocation (or pointmatching), subdomain, Galerkin, and least square methods. The variational solution of a given PDE using an indirect method usually involves two basic steps [2]:
• cast the PDE into variational form, and
• determine the approximate solution using one of the methods.
