• East Asian mathematical journal
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.475-491
• /
• 2014

We can easily see the 'cycloid slide' in the many mathematics and science museums. The educational materials, however, do not give us any mathematical principle. For this reason, we, in this thesis, first study the brachistochrone problem in the history of mathematics, and suggest a method of how to teach the principle using 'the dynamic geometry software GSP5' in order to help students understand the idea that the cycloid is the brachistochrone. Secondly, we examine the origin of the calculus of variations and apply it to prove the brachistochrone problem in order to build up the teachers' background knowledge. This allows us to increase the worth of history of mathematics and recognize how useful the learning is which uses technological tools or materials, and we can expect that the learning which makes use of cycloid slide will be meaningful.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
• /
• v.17 no.12
• /
• pp.2775-2784
• /
• 2013

A bead is intended to reach a specified target point in the minimum-time when it travels along a certain curve on a vertical plane with the gravity. This is called the brachistochrone problem. Its minimum-time control input may be found using the calculus of variation. However, the accuracy of its minimum-time control input is not high since the solution of the control input is based on a table form of inverse relations for some complicated nonlinear equations. To enhance the accuracy, this paper employs the neural network to represent the inverse relation of the complicated nonlinear equations. The accurate minimum-time control is possible with the interpolation property of the neural network. For various final target points, we have found that the proposed method is superior to the conventional ones through the computer simulations.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.818-824
• /
• 2014

The solution of brachistochrone problem turned out the form of a cycloid but correct angle values of bead can be obtained from the table form of inverse relations for the complicated nonlinear equations. To enhance the accuracy, this paper employs the neural network to represent the inverse relation of the complicated nonlinear equations. The accurate minimum-time control is possible with the interpolation property of the neural network. For various final target points, we have found that the proposed method is superior to the conventional ones through the computer simulations.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.43-52
• /
• 2004

In this paper we investigate the origin of the variational calculus with respect to the extremal principle. We also study the role the extremal principle has played in the development of the calculus of variations. We deal with Dido's isoperimetric problem, Maupertius's least action principle, brachistochrone problem, geodesics, Johann Bernoulli's principle of virtual work, Plateau's minimal surface and Dirichlet principle.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.31-44
• /
• 2015

The cycloid curve had been studied by many mathematicians in the period from the 16th century to the 18th century. The results of those studies played important roles in the birth and development of Analytic Geometry, Calculus, and Variational Calculus. In this period mathematicians frequently used the cycloid as an example to apply when they presented their new mathematical methods and ideas. This paper overviews the history of mathematics on the cycloid curve and presents proofs of its important properties.