Isoperimetric problem

One of the fundamental problems in the classical calculus of variations. The isoperimetric problem consists in minimizing a functional

under constraints of the form

and certain boundary conditions.

The isoperimetric problem reduces to the Lagrange problem when new variables are introduced satisfying the differential equations

with boundary conditions

Necessary conditions for optimality in the isoperimetric problem have the same form as do the simplest problems in the calculus of variations related to the Lagrange function

The name "isoperimetric problem" goes back to the following classical question: Among all the curves with given perimeter in the plane, find the one that bounds the largest area.

References

[1]	G.A. Bliss, "Lectures on the calculus of variations" , Chicago Univ. Press (1947)
[2]	L.Ya. Tslaf, "Calculus of variations and integral equations" , Moscow (1970) (In Russian)
[3]	M.A. Lavrent'ev, L.A. Lyusternik, "A course in variational calculus" , Moscow-Leningrad (1950) (In Russian)

Comments

As stated above, the original isoperimetric problem is the problem of finding the geometric figure with maximal area and given perimeter. I.e., the problem is to find functions , such that

is minimized, subject to

where is a given constant.

References

[a1]	L.E. [L.E. El'sgol'ts] Elsgolc, "Calculus of variations" , Pergamon (1961) (Translated from Russian)