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The triangular function is real and even, so its Fourier transform reduces to a cosine integral:For $k\ne 0$, one integration by parts gives ${\int }_0^1(1-x)\cos (kx)dx=(1-\cos k)/k^2$. Therefore the Fourier transform of a triangular function isThe zero-frequency value is the removable limit and also the area of the triangle. The transform is a squared sinc function, which explains its nonnegativity despite the oscillating Fourier exponential.

The boundary conditions on the positive half-line, absent from the transcription, select the half-harmonic oscillator. The trial state $x{e}^{-\alpha x}$ with $\alpha >0$ satisfies both endpoints and has finite norm and energy. Integration by parts, with vanishing endpoint term, givesUsing ${\int }_0^{\infty }{x}^n{e}^{-2\alpha x}dx=n!/(2\alpha {)}^{n+1}$, the three required integrals areThus the exponential trial state for a half-harmonic oscillator gives $\Lambda (\alpha )={\alpha }^2+3/{\alpha }^2$. Its derivative vanishes at ${\alpha }^4=3$, and the arithmetic-geometric mean inequality confirms the global minimum:For comparison, the exact lowest half-line state is proportional to $x{e}^{-x^2/2}$ and has eigenvalue three. The exponential trial family gives a valid upper bound rather than an exact eigenvalue.

Write $N[\psi ]={\int }_a^b(p{\psi }^{\prime 2}+q{\psi }^2)dx$ and $D[\psi ]={\int }_a^{b}w{\psi }^{2}dx>0$. For a real variation, with $\Lambda =N/D$,Suitable endpoint conditions are homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions, homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions $p{\psi }^{\prime }=0$, or one of each. They remove the variation boundary term and the product $[p\psi {\psi }^{\prime }{]}_a^b$. Stationarity for all interior variations is equivalent toConversely, multiplication of an eigenfunction equation by $\psi$ and integration by parts gives $N=\lambda D$, hence $\boxed{\Lambda [\psi ]=\lambda }$. General Robin data require their boundary-energy contributions unless these endpoint products happen to vanish.

Use an eigenbasis orthonormal with respect to the weight: ${\int }_a^{b}w{\psi }_i^{\ast }{\psi }_{j}dx={\delta }_{ij}$. For complex coefficients use the Hermitian version of the quotient, with absolute squares. Self-adjointness givesWhen $c_0\ne 0$, dividing numerator and denominator by $|c_0{|}^2$ yieldsIf $c_0=0$, these ratios are undefined, but the unscaled formula and upper-bound conclusion remain valid. The assumptions are a problem with a self-adjoint operator bounded below and a complete eigenbasis, with the trial function in its energy-form domain. The Rayleigh-Ritz method minimizes this quotient over an admissible trial family, obtaining an upper bound on ${\lambda }_0$. Higher eigenfunctions are stationary directions and need not be unrestricted extrema.

Let $A(k)$ be the Fourier transform of $e^{-x^2}$. Since $(e^{-x^2}{)}^{\prime }=-2x{e}^{-x^2}$, integration by parts gives $\mathcal{F}[x{e}^{-x^2}]=-(ik/2)A(k)$. Differentiation under the integral then yields $A^{\prime }(k)=-(k/2)A(k)$. The Gaussian integral supplies $A(0)=\sqrt{\pi }$, soApplying part (ii) with $n=1$ givesIt is imaginary and odd, as expected for the transform of a real odd function.

For the weighted inner product, the factor $w$ cancels the $w^{-1}$ in the Sturm-Liouville operator. Assuming the coefficients are real, two applications of integration by parts giveThis is the boundary form in the Lagrange identity for a Sturm-Liouville operator. The potential terms cancel; if $q$ were complex, an additional integral of $(q-q^{\ast })f^{\ast }g$ would remain, so suitable real coefficients are part of formal self-adjointness. The endpoint restrictions in part (a) eliminate the displayed form for every pair of functions in the domain.

On its specified domain of admissible functions, a self-adjoint operator equals its adjoint, including the adjoint domain. Its integration identity on the interval isFor a differential operator, the boundary conditions must make the boundary form from integration by parts vanish. Formal symmetry of the differential expression alone does not specify a self-adjoint boundary-value problem.

Apply this identity to two eigenfunctions. Since the weight is real,First take $m=n$: positivity of ${\int }_a^{b}w|y_n{|}^{2}dx$ shows ${\lambda }_n={\lambda }_n^{\ast }$, so the eigenvalues are real. For distinct eigenvalues, subtraction therefore givesThis is orthogonality of Sturm-Liouville eigenfunctions in the weighted inner product, rather than necessarily in the unweighted inner product.

Use the Fourier transform convention $\tilde{y}(\omega )={\int }_{\mathbb{R}}y(t)e^{-i\omega t}dt$. For a transformable response with the necessary boundary terms vanishing, integration by parts givesTransforming the differential equation therefore gives $(5-{\omega }^2+2i\omega )\tilde{y}=\tilde{f}$, soThe identities also hold for tempered distributions. The denominator factors as $(\omega -i-2)(\omega -i+2)$; its two poles are in the upper half-plane, corresponding under inverse factor $e^{i\omega t}$ to the causal Green function of a damped oscillator.

The frequency-domain formula selects the Fourier-transformable response. Decay of the force alone would not remove arbitrary homogeneous solutions, which grow towards negative time and do not have an ordinary bilateral Fourier transform.

Use the ordinary real inner product $⟨u,v⟩={\int }_a^{b}uvdx$ on the domain of functions obeying the two separated boundary conditions. Integration by parts gives the Lagrange identity for a Sturm-Liouville operatorAt $a$, the two boundary-value vectors $(u(a),u^{\prime }(a))$ and $(v(a),v^{\prime }(a))$ satisfy the same homogeneous linear relation. If $A_2=0$, both function values vanish; if $A_2\ne 0$, their derivatives are the same constant multiple $-A_1/A_2$ of their values. Either way $v{u}^{\prime }-u{v}^{\prime }=0$. The same argument applies at $b$. HenceThis proves symmetry, and the regular separated Sturm-Liouville problem has the same adjoint domain, so $L$ is self-adjoint. To see the domain point, require the boundary form to vanish against every admissible $u$: the independently variable endpoint data force an adjoint-domain function to obey those same endpoint relations.

As usual, each endpoint pair $(A_1,A_2)$ and $(B_1,B_2)$ must be nonzero, and the coefficients must have the regularity needed for these operations. An identically zero pair would impose no condition at that endpoint and would not give the claimed self-adjoint operator. The related operator ${\omega }^{-1}L$ is self-adjoint in the weighted inner product ${\int }_a^b\omega uvdx$.

Multiply the eigenvalue equation of the Sturm-Liouville problem by $y$ and integrate. Integration by parts givesSince $y$ is a nonzero eigenfunction and $\omega >0$, the denominator is strictly positive. Thus the Rayleigh quotient isThe endpoint term must be retained for a general Robin boundary condition; it vanishes for homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions but need not vanish in the present general problem.

Let $d=b-a$. In the mixed Dirichlet-Neumann problem in an elliptic annulus, the angular Fourier modes separate. The outer data excite the $\cos \nu$ mode, while the inner derivative excites $\cos 2\nu$.

For the first mode, a radial factor with zero derivative at $\mu =a$ is $\cosh (\mu -a)$. Normalizing its outer value gives $F_1(\mu )=\cosh (\mu -a)/\cosh d$. For the second mode, a radial factor vanishing at $\mu =b$ is $\sinh [2(b-\mu )]$. Its derivative at $a$ must be $-1$, fixing the coefficient to $1/[2\cosh (2d)]$. ThereforeEach term satisfies Laplace's equation; at $\mu =b$ the second term vanishes and the first is $\cos \nu$. At $\mu =a$, differentiating gives $0-\cos 2\nu$, as required. All other modes, including the constant mode, vanish by the homogeneous mixed conditions. Alternatively, integration by parts applied to the difference of two solutions gives a zero integral of $|\nabla \Phi {|}^2$, proving uniqueness.

Boundary convention. The calculation follows the explicitly printed coordinate derivative ${\partial }_{\mu }\Phi$. In elliptic coordinates, the scale factor is $h=\sqrt{{\sinh }^2\mu +{\sin }^2\nu }$ and the outward unit normal at the inner boundary points toward decreasing $\mu$. A physical normal derivative there would be $-h^{-1}{\partial }_{\mu }\Phi$. Thus the phrase “normal derivative” in the source must be understood in its displayed coordinate sense; imposing the same numerical data on a unit-normal derivative would be a different problem.

Write $F(\omega )=\tilde{f}(\omega )$ to distinguish the Fourier transform from the original function. Integration by parts, using the stated decay, givesApplying the same argument to $f^{\prime }$ gives $\widehat{f^{\prime \prime }}=i\omega \widehat{f^{\prime }}=-{\omega }^{2}F$. Differentiation with respect to the frequency givesConsequentlyThe classical steps require existence of the relevant integrals and justification for differentiation under the integral, for example sufficient integrability of $f$, its derivatives and $tf$. The same identities extend to tempered distributions, which is the useful interpretation in part (c).

Multiply the separated Sturm-Liouville problem by real $R$ and apply integration by parts:The outer endpoint term vanishes because $R(1)=0$. At zero, regularity gives vanishing radial flux. This can be obtained from the equation without assuming a bounded derivative: let $F=r\kappa R^{\prime }$. Since $F^{\prime }=-\nu rR$ and $R$ is bounded, $F$ has a finite limit at zero. If that limit were nonzero, positive bounded thermal diffusivity would make $R^{\prime }$ have fixed sign and magnitude at least a constant times $1/r$ sufficiently near zero, contradicting bounded $R$. Hence $F(0)=0$, and in fact $F(r)=-\nu {\int }_0^{r}sR(s)ds=O(r^2)$. This also forces $RF\to 0$ for bounded $R$.

The boundary terms therefore vanish, provingAs usual for diffusion, $\kappa$ is nonnegative and positive for $0<r\le 1$; the later power-law case may vanish at the centre. The argument applies in that case as well.

Here $\lambda =7/2$ and ${\alpha }_n=n$. LetTwo applications of integration by parts giveSolving these equations,Consequently the required amplitudes areThe stated initial velocity is nonzero at the fixed endpoints, whereas a classical solution differentiable there would require zero endpoint velocity. Thus it is understood on the open interval, or as an L2 space initial datum in the usual finite-energy solution. Its Fourier sine series takes value zero at the endpoints; this changes no initial energy or interior initial data.

A sufficient assumption is that $f$ is absolutely continuous, $f,f^{\prime }\in L^1(\mathbb{R})$, and $f(t)\to 0$ at both infinities. Integration by parts in the Fourier transform givesThe decay assumption removes the boundary term, and integrability makes both transforms ordinary convergent integrals. The same derivative identity extends to tempered distributions.

Evenness means the negative half of the function is determined as well: this is the triangular function $q(x)=1-|x|$ on $|x|\le 1$, zero outside. Its transform is real and even:Integration by parts, or integrating the two terms separately, givesThe apparent singularity at zero is removable, and its limiting value is the area under $q$. This is the Fourier transform of a triangular function.

Multiplication by a positive weight puts the differential equation into Sturm-Liouville form if $(xw{)}^{\prime }=(1-x)w$. Thus $x{w}^{\prime }=-xw$, and the constant factor can be chosen so thatThis fixes the otherwise arbitrary normalization of the weight consistently with the requested unit norms.

Write the polynomial as $p_n(x)={\sum }_{j=0}^n{c}_j{x}^j$. Comparing coefficients givesConsequently $c_j=(-1{)}^j(\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{n}{j})/j!$, identifying the solutions as Laguerre polynomials. In particular,Repeated integration by parts gives the moments ${\int }_0^{\infty }{e}^{-x}{x}^{j}dx=j!$. ThereforeFor later use, integration by parts in the weighted eigenvalue equations also givesThe endpoint expression vanishes because of the factor $x$ at zero and exponential decay at infinity. Hence distinct Laguerre polynomials are orthogonal, an instance of orthogonality of Sturm-Liouville eigenfunctions.

The coefficient formula from part (b) and the Leibniz rule yield Rodrigues' formula directly:The leading coefficient is $(-1{)}^n/n!$, so $p_n^{(n)}=(-1{)}^n$. Substitute this differentiated expression into one factor in the squared weighted norm and apply integration by parts $n$ times:Every endpoint term contains a derivative of $e^{-x}{x}^n$ of order less than $n$: it vanishes at zero, and its exponential decay beats every polynomial at infinity. This proves the normalization of the ordinary Laguerre polynomials for all $n$, including $n=0$ without any integrations by parts.

Take $\lambda >0$ and $t>0$, the positive diffusivity requirement for the forward heat kernel. The PDF does not explicitly specify the sign of $\lambda$; the stated real Gaussian function formula requires this assumption. For a direct calculation, initially assume sufficiently smooth and rapidly decreasing data, so that the Fourier transform, its inverse and the following integrations are justified. The resulting heat-kernel convolution extends to wider classes of initial data.

Using the stated Fourier transform convention and integration by parts,The transformed ordinary differential equation has solution $\tilde{u}(k,t)=e^{-\lambda k^{2}t}{\tilde{u}}_0(k)$. Fourier inversion then givesComplete the square:Part (a), after scaling by $\sqrt{\lambda t}$, evaluates the remaining Gaussian integral even though its shift is imaginary. ThereforeThe heat kernel has integral one and is an approximate identity as $t\downarrow 0$, which recovers the initial condition. Mere decay at spatial infinity does not by itself imply every Fourier integral is absolutely convergent; the regularity assumption above supplies a rigorous setting for the derivation.

The endpoint constraints are $y(-a)=y(a)=0$. The constants in the three costs contribute only $2aK$, $2a{K}^{\prime }$ and $2a{K}^{\prime \prime }$ respectively, so they do not affect the minimizing shapes. For companies B and C, the fixed arc length isThe original PDF has $(y^{\prime }{)}^2$ as company A's first variable term. The local TeX transcription has lost that derivative dot and incorrectly repeats $y^2$; the calculation below follows the PDF.

Company A. The relevant functional is $J_A=\int (y^{\prime 2}+y^2-2xy)dx$. The Euler-Lagrange equation givesIts general solution is $y=x+c_1\cosh x+c_2\sinh x$. Adding and subtracting the endpoint equations gives $c_1=0$ and $c_2=-a/\sinh a$. ThusThis curve is odd, negative on the left half and positive on the right half; company A has no lower-half-plane restriction. It is the unique global minimum. Indeed, for any endpoint-zero variation $\eta$, integration by parts and the differential equation cancel all linear terms, leavingunless $\eta =0$.

Company B. Minimize $\int ydx$ under the length constraint. Introduce a constant Lagrange multiplier $\lambda$ and apply the Euler-Lagrange equation to $y+\lambda \sqrt{1+y^{\prime 2}}$:The curvature is constant, so the required lower arc is a circular arc. Writing its radius as $R\ge a$ and imposing the endpoints givesSince $\sqrt{1+y_B^{\prime 2}}=R/\sqrt{R^2-x^2}$, its length determines the radius:Equivalently, introduce $0<\theta \le \pi /2$ with $a=R\sin \theta$. Then $L/(2a)=\theta /\sin \theta$, which increases strictly from $1$ to $\pi /2$. The stipulated range of $L$ therefore selects one minor arc. At $L=\pi a$ it becomes the lower semicircle, with vertical endpoint tangents; it is still a single-valued finite-length graph.

Global minimality follows from the convexity of the augmented slope cost with $\lambda =R$. For a competitor $y=y_B+\eta$,Consequently the augmented cost difference is at least $\int (\eta +x{\eta }^{\prime })dx=[x\eta {]}_{-a}^a=0$. Competitors have the same length, so the multiplier contribution cancels and the original cost is minimized. This proves that a circular arc maximizes area below a fixed chord: minimizing negative signed height maximizes the area between the fence and the chord.

Company C. The variable cost is $J_C=\int yds=\int y\sqrt{1+y^{\prime 2}}dx$. The augmented integrand is $(y+\lambda )\sqrt{1+y^{\prime 2}}$. Since it has no explicit $x$ dependence, the Beltrami identity givesThe hanging branch with $b>0$ integrates to $y+\lambda =b\cosh [(x-x_0)/b]$. Equal endpoint heights force $x_0=0$, and the endpoint value fixes $\lambda =b\cosh (a/b)$. ThusIts length isWriting $q=a/b$, the equation $L/(2a)=\sinh q/q$ has one positive solution for every $L>2a$: its derivative has numerator $q\cosh q-\sinh q>0$. The curve is a catenary, is even, and lies strictly below the chord except at the endpoints.

A direct argument proves this is a global minimum, rather than merely an extremum of an augmented functional. Parametrize any competitor by arc length $s\in [-L/2,L/2]$, from its left endpoint to its right endpoint. Then $x^{\prime 2}+y^{\prime 2}=1$, $\int x^{\prime }ds=2a$, and integration by parts givesThe Cauchy-Schwarz inequality gives the last step. Equality requires $x^{\prime }=b/\sqrt{b^2+s^2}$ and $y^{\prime }=s/\sqrt{b^2+s^2}$, whose integrals are precisely the displayed catenary with the stated length. Thus it attains a lower bound valid for every competitor. This proves that a catenary minimizes the integral of height along a fixed-length curve.

The sketch uses $a=1$ and $L=2.7$ for the two fixed-length cases. The vertical scale in the company A panel is enlarged to show its small odd deflection. No comparison between the three companies' absolute prices is required or possible from the shapes alone, since their additive cost constants are independent.

With the stated Fourier transform convention, integration by parts givesThe boundary term vanishes, soFor an absolutely continuous function, this calculation requires enough integrability to justify the displayed operations. Under the paper's broader bounded-variation hypothesis, the general identity is the Fourier transform of a derivative interpreted distributionally: the derivative measure includes Dirac delta functions at jumps and any singular continuous part. If one instead differentiates only the smooth pieces and discards jumps, the formula needs the corresponding jump corrections. Absolute integrability and bounded variation ensure the limits of $f$ at both infinities are zero, but do not by themselves make its ordinary derivative capture those singular parts.