= Calculus of variations
{wiki=Calculus_of_variations}
Calculus of variations is a field of mathematical analysis that deals with optimizing functionals, which are mappings from a set of functions to the real numbers. In simpler terms, it involves finding a function that minimizes or maximizes a specific quantity defined as an integral (or sometimes an infinite series) of a function and its derivatives. \#\#\# Key Concepts: 1. **Functional**: A functional is typically an integral that represents some physical quantity, such as energy or action.
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