Introduction to the Theory of Distributions

This pamphlet, based on lectures given by Laurent Schwartz at the Canadian Mathematical Congress in 1951, gives a detailed introduction to the theory of distributions, in terms of classical analysis, for applied mathematicians and physicists.

Mathematical Congress Lecture Series, No. 1

About the Author
Israel Halperin (1911-2007) was a Canadian mathematician and professor emeritus of the University of Toronto, as well as a social activist.
Laurent Schwartz (1915-2002) was was a French mathematician. He pioneered the theory of distributions, which gives a well-defined meaning to objects such as the Dirac delta function. He was awarded the Fields Medal in 1950 for his work on the theory of distributions. For several years he taught at the Ecole polytechnique.