Final answer:
To solve for extremals using Euler's condition for the integral J with F=(x)^2−k^2×^2, we derive the Euler-Lagrange equation and solve the resulting second-order differential equation.
Step-by-step explanation:
To solve the extremals of the given integral J=∫F(x(t),x' (t))dt where F=(x)^2−k^2×^2 and k is a fixed number, we apply Euler's condition from the calculus of variations. Euler's condition gives us the necessary condition for x(t) to be an extremal of J.
According to Euler's condition, for a functional of the form J=∫F(x,x')dt, the extremal function x(t) must satisfy the Euler-Lagrange equation d/dt(∂F/∂x') - ∂F/∂x = 0. Applying this to our functional with F=(x)^2−k^2×^2, we get:
∂F/∂x = 2x
∂F/∂x' = -2k^2x'
d/dt(∂F/∂x') = -2k^2x''
Substituting these into the Euler-Lagrange equation, we have -2k^2x'' - 2x = 0. This is a second-order linear homogeneous differential equation. To solve it, we find the characteristic equation and its roots. Assuming a solution of the form x(t) = e^λt, substituting into the differential equation gives us a quadratic equation in λ.
From here, the solution proceeds by finding the general solution to the differential equation, which involves constants that would be determined by boundary conditions.