Six Themes On Variation

The calculus of variations is a beautiful subject with a rich history and with origins in the minimization problems of calculus. Although it is now at the core ... » 

The calculus of variations is a beautiful subject with a rich history and with origins in the minimization problems of calculus. Although it is now at the core of many modern mathematical fields, it does not have a well-defined place in most undergraduate mathematics courses or curricula. This small volume should nevertheless give the undergraduate reader a sense of its great character and importance. «