Is there a smooth solution to minimize this: $$ \int_0^1{x \over {1+k^2f'(x)^2}}dx, f(0)=1, f(1)=0, f'(x)\leq 0, k^2>0. $$ I could "solve" it using a numeric approximation (my algorithm converged so apparently there is a valid local minimum in the function space) but would love to see an analytic solution (algebraic or not, doesn't matter). Thank you so much in advance. Fingers crossed.
Functional minimization problem
Mandrill
- 173
- 5