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 functional (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 |