The principle of least action as a Lagrange variational problem: Stationarity and extremality conditions (Q579982)

This paper discusses the stationarity and extremality of the (Maupertuis- Euler)-Lagrange action functional from the viewpoint of a problem of Lagrange of the calculus of variations. The first and second (variable endpoint) variations of the associated Lagrange multiplier-containing functional are calculated; the semidefiniteness condition and related concept of kinetic focus are also derived.