Symbol L. A function used to define a dynamical system in terms of functions of coordinates, velocities, and times given by
where T is the kinetic energy of the system and V is the potential energy of the system. The Lagrangian formulation of dynamics has the advantage that it does not deal with many vector quantities, such as forces and accelerations, but only with two scalar functions, T and V. This leads to great simplifications in calculations. Lagrangian dynamics was formulated by Joseph Louis Lagrange (1736–1813). See also inverse Lagrangian problem.