A Straightforward Sufficiency Proof for a Nonparametric Problem of Bolza in the Calculus of Variations

Abstract

We study a variable end-points calculus of variations problem of Bolza containing inequality and equality constraints. The proof of the principal theorem of the paper has a direct nature since it is independent of some classical sufficiency approaches invoking the Hamiltonian-Jacobi theory, Riccati equations, fields of extremals or the theory of conjugate points. In contrast, the algorithm employed to prove the principal theorem of the article is based on elementary tools of the real analysis.