Unified symmetry of nonholonomic mechanical systems with variable mass

Based on the total time derivative along the trajectory of the system the definition and the criterion for a unified symmetry of nonholonomic mechanical system with variable mass are presented in this paper. A new conserved quantity, as well as the Noether conserved quantity and the Hojman conserved quantity, deduced from the unified symmetry, are also obtained. An example is given to illustrate the application of the results.