On the inverse problem of the discrete calculus of variations

In this paper we present an algorithm to find the discrete Lagrangian for an autonomous recurrence relation of arbitrary even order $2k$ with $k>1$. The method is based on the existence of a set of differential operators called annihilation operators which can be used to convert a functional equation into a system of linear partial differential equations. This completely solves the inverse problem of the calculus of variations in this setting.