Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2024 / iii / Paper 107 / 2 / b / Solution

For compactly supported smooth variations $(\varphi ,\psi )$, differentiating at $t=0$ givesThis is the weak formulation. Taking $\psi =0$ or $\varphi =0$ separates its two equations. When $X,Y$ are smooth, integration by parts transfers each derivative from the test function; the fundamental lemma of the calculus of variations then recovers exactly the two pointwise equations in part (a).