Substituting in § 2 (10), we have

d ∂R ∂R = Q1,   d ∂R ∂R = Q2, ...
dt ∂q˙1∂q1 dt∂q˙2 ∂q2

(8)

These are Routh’s forms of the modified Lagrangian equations. Equivalent forms were obtained independently by Helmholtz at a later date.

The function R is made up of three parts, thus

R = R2, 0 + R1, 1 + R0, 2, ...

(9)

where R2, 0 is a homogeneous quadratic function of q˙1, q˙2, ... q˙m, R0, 2 is Kelvin’s equations. a homogeneous quadratic function of κ, κ′, κ″, ..., whilst R1, 1 consists of products of the velocities q˙1, q˙2, ... q˙m into the momenta κ, κ′, κ″.... Hence from (3) and (7) we have

T = R − (κ ∂R+ κ′ ∂R+ κ″ ∂R+ ...) = R2, 0 − R0, 2.
∂κ ∂κ′∂κ″

(10)