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For a variation $y+\epsilon \eta$,Integration by parts givesFor fixed endpoints, $\eta (0)=\eta (x_0)=0$. The fundamental lemma of the calculus of variations therefore gives the Euler-Lagrange equationA solution makes the first variation vanish for every admissible variation, so it is a stationary candidate; whether it is a minimum or maximum is decided by higher variations. If endpoint values are free, $\eta$ is arbitrary there, and the boundary term instead vanishes under the natural conditionsThus the same Euler-Lagrange solution is stationary for all free-endpoint variations. These are the natural boundary conditions for a free endpoint.

Forthe two equations areSet $u=y+z$ and $v=y-z$. ThenThe conditions $y(0)=z(0)=0$ giveand hence the most general solution is

Free conditions at $x_0$ are $y^{\prime }(x_0)=z^{\prime }(x_0)=0$. Adding and subtracting them givesThus $A=0$. The zero solution exists for every $x_0$, while nonzero solutions exist precisely whenFor those values they form the one-parameter familywhere $C$ is arbitrary. This is the free-endpoint normal mode of a coupled variational functional.