A variational adjoint nodal method is proposed to yield an approximation theory for the eigenvalues of the multigroup neutron diffusion boundary value problem of a heterogeneous quasicritical one-dimensional slab reactor. Semianalytical eigensolutions are constructed for the associated whole-reactor group nodal fluxes. The method appears to be mathematically more consistent, computationally more straightforward, and practically more convenient than alternative nodal or finite element schemes. 0 1992 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.