Applications

In this chapter we apply the theory from the previous chapters to some specific problems. We begin with the brachistochrone problem.

Recall that the brachistochrone problem leads to the minimization of

J (x(·)) = ∫ a 0

√ 1 + [x˙ (s)]2

2gx (s) ds,

subject to x (0) = 0, x (a) = b.