Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2025/ib/paper-3/4c/solution

The Euler–Lagrange equations are
For their general solution is
while for , .
The action has continuous translation symmetry in ; it is also invariant up to endpoint terms under adding homogeneous Jacobi solutions to and to . For it additionally has continuous time-translation symmetry; for nonzero only the corresponding discrete period remains.
A complete set of four independent first integrals is
In particular is conserved; when , the usual total energy is conserved as well.

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