extremal


An extremum point (i.e. a maximum point or a minimum point) gives a maximum value or a minimum value for a function (http://planetmath.org/RealFunction).

An extremal curve (i.e. an extremal, or the corresponding extremal function) gives a maximum value or a minimum value for a functionalPlanetmathPlanetmathPlanetmath (http://planetmath.org/Functional).

For example, if the functional is the length of a curve connecting two points on a sphere, the extremals are great circle arcs between the points.

Title extremal
Canonical name Extremal
Date of creation 2013-03-22 19:10:29
Last modified on 2013-03-22 19:10:29
Owner pahio (2872)
Last modified by pahio (2872)
Numerical id 4
Author pahio (2872)
Entry type Definition
Classification msc 47A60
Synonym extremal curve
Related topic CalculusOfVariations
Defines extremal function