Variational methods are mathematical techniques used to find the extrema of functionals, which are mappings from a space of functions to the real numbers. These methods often involve the use of calculus of variations and are essential for solving problems in physics, engineering, and optimization. They connect closely with concepts like convergence and optimization, which are crucial for understanding how solutions behave under perturbations.
congrats on reading the definition of Variational Methods. now let's actually learn it.