Optimality conditions for the calculus of variations with higher-order delta derivatives

We prove the Euler-Lagrange delta-differential equations for problems of the calculus of variations on arbitrary time scales with delta-integral functionals depending on higher-order delta derivatives.Comment: Submitted 26/Jul/2009; Revised 04/Aug/2010; Accepted 09/Aug/2010; for publication in "Applied Mathematics Letters

Discrete-Time Fractional Variational Problems

We introduce a discrete-time fractional calculus of variations on the time scale $h\mathbb{Z}$, $h > 0$. First and second order necessary optimality conditions are established. Examples illustrating the use of the new Euler-Lagrange and Legendre type conditions are given. They show that solutions to the considered fractional problems become the classical discrete-time solutions when the fractional order of the discrete-derivatives are integer values, and that they converge to the fractional continuous-time solutions when $h$ tends to zero. Our Legendre type condition is useful to eliminate false candidates identified via the Euler-Lagrange fractional equation.Comment: Submitted 24/Nov/2009; Revised 16/Mar/2010; Accepted 3/May/2010; for publication in Signal Processing

The contingent epiderivative and the calculus of variations on time scales

The calculus of variations on time scales is considered. We propose a new approach to the subject that consists in applying a differentiation tool called the contingent epiderivative. It is shown that the contingent epiderivative applied to the calculus of variations on time scales is very useful: it allows to unify the delta and nabla approaches previously considered in the literature. Generalized versions of the Euler-Lagrange necessary optimality conditions are obtained, both for the basic problem of the calculus of variations and isoperimetric problems. As particular cases one gets the recent delta and nabla results.Comment: Submitted 06/March/2010; revised 12/May/2010; accepted 03/July/2010; for publication in "Optimization---A Journal of Mathematical Programming and Operations Research

A unified approach to the calculus of variations on time scales

In this work we propose a new and more general approach to the calculus of variations on time scales that allows to obtain, as particular cases, both delta and nabla results. More precisely, we pose the problem of minimizing or maximizing the composition of delta and nabla integrals with Lagrangians that involve directional derivatives. Unified Euler-Lagrange necessary optimality conditions, as well as sufficient conditions under appropriate convexity assumptions, are proved. We illustrate presented results with simple examples.Comment: 7 pages, presented at the 2010 Chinese Control and Decision Conference, Xuzhou, China, May 26-28, 201

The Variational Calculus on Time Scales

The discrete, the quantum, and the continuous calculus of variations, have been recently unified and extended by using the theory of time scales. Such unification and extension is, however, not unique, and two approaches are followed in the literature: one dealing with minimization of delta integrals; the other dealing with minimization of nabla integrals. Here we review a more general approach to the calculus of variations on time scales that allows to obtain both delta and nabla results as particular cases.Comment: 15 pages; Published in: Int. J. Simul. Multidisci. Des. Optim. 4 (2010), 11--2

Higher-Order Calculus of Variations on Time Scales

We prove a version of the Euler-Lagrange equations for certain problems of the calculus of variations on time scales with higher-order delta derivatives.Comment: Corrected minor typo