Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2016 / ib / Paper 2 / 15C / b / Solution

Vary $y$ by $y+\epsilon \eta$, where the clamped endpoint conditions require $\eta ={\eta }^{\prime }=0$ at both endpoints. The first variation of the quadratic elastic energy isBoth integrations by parts have zero boundary terms. Since the variation is arbitrary in the interior, the fundamental lemma of the calculus of variations gives the Euler-Lagrange equation. Varying $z$ independently gives the second equation:The clamped endpoint values accompany these equations. If $A$ or $B$ depends on $x$, it must remain inside the derivatives.