On indirect variational formulations for operator equations (Q2474629)

Given an operator equation \(N=0\), where \(N\) is Gâteaux differentiable, the authors present a constructive determination of indirect variational formulations for this equation. After a brief review of previous results on bilinear forms and variational principles, in Section~3 the main results of the paper are presented. First, the authors provide conditions under which the operator \(N\) is potential in its domain with respect to a local bilinear form, and the corresponding potential is given. Next, this result is used in the study of variational multipliers for \(N\). Two examples given by a partial differential equation, and a system of two partial differential equations, illustrate the main results presented in the paper.