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The Euler--Lagrange equations for the quadratic Lagrangian areFor a normal mode $x(t)=a{e}^{i\omega t}$, they become the generalized eigenvalue problem for small oscillationsPut $\lambda =m{\omega }^2/k$. With the stated spring constants,The final matrix has characteristic polynomialso its eigenvalue are ${\nu }_{\pm }=\pm \sqrt{1+{\delta }^2}$. HenceThe two angular frequencies therefore satisfyThis is the spectrum recorded by normal modes of two equal masses between three springs.