Can anyone provide a proof for

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the question of whether the product of two distributions can be defined, exploring theoretical implications and examples from distribution theory. Participants examine various approaches and reasoning related to this topic.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions why the product of two distributions cannot be defined and suggests that if sequences of functions converge to distributions, their product should also converge to the product of those distributions.
  • Another participant asserts that the product of distributions can be defined in certain special cases, specifically mentioning the delta distribution and questioning how to define its square.
  • A different participant proposes a specific form for the product of the delta distribution, suggesting a limit involving a sine function as N approaches infinity.
  • One participant challenges the initial claim about the product of sequences converging to distributions, stating that the limit of the product depends on the specific sequences and can yield different results, including convergence to zero.
  • There is a discussion about the analogy of multiplication and addition, where one participant argues that multiplication can be viewed as repeated addition, but another points out that this reasoning only applies when one of the factors is an integer.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether the product of distributions can be defined, with some arguing for specific cases where it can be, while others maintain that it cannot be generally defined. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives presented.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific mathematical concepts and examples, such as the Dirac delta function and sequences of functions, but do not reach consensus on the validity or applicability of these examples to the broader question of product definitions in distribution theory.

tpm
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Can anyone give a proof of why the product of 2 distributions can't be defined ?? :Confused:

In fact i believe (at least it should be) that if [tex]f_{n} (x)[/tex] and [tex]g_{n} (x)[/tex] are a succesion of function for [tex]n \rightarrow \infty[/tex] then the product of the 2 sucessions should be equal to the product of the 2 distributions..

hence [tex]f_{n} (x) \rightarrow d(x)[/tex] and [tex]g_{n} (x) \rightarrow e(x)[/tex] where d(x) and e(x) are 2 distributions then :

[tex]f_{n} (x) g_{n} (x) \rightarrow d(x)e(x)[/tex] ?

I have read about 'MOllifiers' and several methods for generalizing the distribution theory to include product of distributions, also couldn't the product be always defined as a 'sum' (in fact the sum of 2 distributions is defined) since:

[tex]a X b = a+a+a+a+a+a+a+a+...[/tex] (the sum has 'b' terms)

or [tex]log(a X b )=log(a) +log(b)[/tex] :Grumpy:
 
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tpm said:
Can anyone give a proof of why the product of 2 distributions can't be defined ?? :Confused:

It can be defined, but only in certain special cases and in a very special way.

Take the delta distribution defined by [itex]\delta[f]:=f(0)[/itex], where [itex]f[/itex] is in Schwartz Space/ a test function. How would you define [itex]\delta^2[/itex]?
 
you can define [tex]\delta (x) \delta (x) = \delta ^{2} (x)[/tex] in the form.

[tex]\delta ^{2} (x) \sim \frac{ sin ^{2} (Nx)}{\pi ^{2} x^{2}}[/tex]

as N-->oo (N big) , do i get the 'Field medal' for it ?? :Bigrin:
 
tpm said:
or [tex]log(a X b )=log(a) +log(b)[/tex] :Grumpy:

let [tex]log(a )=c'[/tex], and [tex]log( b )=c"[/tex], let's say that both logs have a base "d"( i do not know how to write it )

then by definition we have from the first

d^c'=a, and d^c"=b

if we multiply side by side we get

ab=(d^c')(d^c")=d^(c'+c") so agani by definition we have
log_d(ab)=c'+c", , i guess you can see the rest?
 
Last edited:
tpm said:
[tex]f_{n} (x) g_{n} (x) \rightarrow d(x)e(x)[/tex] ?

This doesn't work. Say that two sequences [itex]f_n(x)[/itex] and [itex]g_n(x)[/itex] both converge to the Dirac distribution. Depending on what these functions are, it's possible to obtain [itex]f_n(x) g_n(x) \rightarrow 0[/itex], among many other results. The limit of the product depends on more than the limits of the individual sequences. It's not unique.

[tex]a X b = a+a+a+a+a+a+a+a+...[/tex] (the sum has 'b' terms)

That only makes sense if b is an integer. But multiplication of distributions by integers is already defined (as is multiplication by arbitrary complex numbers).
 

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