A more accurate treatment of the problem of drawing the shortest line on a surface

arXiv0801.0897MaRDI QIDQ6208027FDOQ6208027

Authors: Leonhard Euler 

Publication date: 6 January 2008

Abstract: E727 in the Enestrom index. This is a translation from the Latin original "Accuratior evolutio problematis de linea brevissima in superficie quacunque ducenda" (1779). Given a surface $pdx+qdy+rdz=0$, Euler wants to develop equations that give the geodesics on this surface. I am new to the calculus of variations, so it is not clear to me what steps follow from results that are previously known (like the Euler-Lagrange equation in the calculations) and what steps follow from earlier in this paper. I would appreciate comments from any readers who are familiar with calculus of variations.

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

History of mathematics in the 18th century (01A50) History of calculus of variations and optimal control (49-03)

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