Test Functions and Distributions
In the sequel, real-valued distributions on an open subset U of Rn will be formally defined. With minor modifications, one can also define complex-valued distributions, and one can replace Rn by any (paracompact) smooth manifold.
The first object to define is the space D(U) of test functions on U. Once this is defined, it is then necessary to equip it with a topology by defining the limit of a sequence of elements of D(U). The space of distributions will then be given as the space of continuous linear functionals on D(U).
Read more about this topic: Distribution (mathematics)
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—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)
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—Edward T. Hall (b. 1914)