Definition:Invariant Functional under Transformation

Definition
Let $y_i$, $F$, $\Phi$, $\Psi$ be real functions.

Let $\mathbf y = \sequence{y_i}_{1 \le i \le n}$.

Let $\displaystyle J \sqbrk {\mathbf y} = \int_{x_0}^{x_1} \map F {x, \mathbf y, \mathbf y'} \rd x$ be a functional.

Let:


 * $X = \map {\Phi} {x,\mathbf y,\mathbf y'}$


 * $\mathbf Y = \map {\mathbf \Psi} {x, \mathbf y, \mathbf y'}$

Let curve $\gamma$ defined by:
 * $\mathbf y = \map {\mathbf y} x, \quad x_0 \le x \le x_1$

be transformed into a curve $\Gamma$ defined by


 * $\mathbf Y = \map {\mathbf Y} X, \quad X_0 \le X \le X_1$

Then the functional is invariant under the given transformation if:


 * $J \sqbrk \Gamma = J \sqbrk \gamma$

In other words,


 * $\displaystyle \int_{x_0}^{x_1} \map F {x, \mathbf y, \mathbf y'} \rd x = \int_{X_0}^{X_1} \map F {X, \mathbf Y, \mathbf Y'} \rd X$