Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2014 / iii / Paper 16 / 1 / a / Solution

Let $Q$ be the configuration smooth manifold, and let $L(t,q,v)$ be a smooth Lagrangian on its tangent bundle. For a path with fixed endpoints, its action isThe principle of stationary action requires the first variation to vanish for every fixed-endpoint variation. In a coordinate chart take $q_s=q+s\eta$, with $\eta (a)=\eta (b)=0$. Differentiation under the integral and integration by parts giveRepeated coordinate indices are summed. The endpoint term vanishes. Since compactly supported variations can be chosen independently in each coordinate, the fundamental lemma of the calculus of variations yields the Euler-Lagrange equationsConversely these equations make the displayed first variation zero for every fixed-endpoint variation. Variations localized in coordinate charts establish the same assertion for paths on $Q$. Thus the Euler-Lagrange equations are exactly the stationary-path condition, not necessarily a condition for an action minimum.