# Differential of Differentiable Functional is Unique

## Theorem

The differential of a differentiable functional is unique.

## Proof

### Lemma

Let $\phi \left[{y; h}\right]$ be a linear functional w.r.t. $h$.

Let:

$\displaystyle \lim_{\left \vert{h}\right\vert \to 0} \frac {\phi \left[{y; h}\right]} {\left\vert{h}\right\vert} = 0$

Then :

$\phi \left[{y; h}\right] = 0$

Let $J[y]$ be a differentiable functional.

Suppose the differential of $J[y]$ is not uniquely defined.

Then at least 2 different forms of this exist:

$\Delta J[y;h]=\phi_1[y;h]+\epsilon_1 \left\vert{h}\right\vert$

$\Delta J[y;h]=\phi_2[y;h]+\epsilon_2\left\vert{h}\right\vert$

where $\phi_1[y;h]$ and $\phi_2[y;h]$ are linear functionals, and $\epsilon_1,\epsilon_2\to 0$ as $\left\vert{h}\right\vert\to 0$.

Note that $\epsilon_1\left\vert{h}\right\vert$, $\epsilon_2\left\vert{h}\right\vert$ and $\left(\epsilon_1-\epsilon_2\right)\left\vert{h}\right\vert$ are all infinitesimals of order higher than 1 relative to $\left\vert{h}\right\vert$,

since as $\left\vert{h}\right\vert\to 0$, the whole expression $\to 0$ faster than $\left\vert{h}\right\vert$ due to constraints on $\epsilon$.

Consequently, subtraction of one from the other leads to

$\phi_1[y;h]-\phi_2[y;h]=\left(\epsilon_2-\epsilon_1\right) \left\vert{h}\right\vert$.

Therefore, $\phi_1[y;h]-\phi_2[y;h]$ is an infinitesimal of order higher than 1 relative to $\left\vert{h}\right\vert$.

Since each of the members are linear functionals, the whole term keeps the same property.

By rearranging terms of the last equation we get

$\displaystyle\frac{\phi_1[y;h]-\phi_2[y;h]}{\left\vert{h}\right\vert}=\epsilon_2-\epsilon_1$

Taking the limit and recalling the constraint on both $\epsilon_1$ and $\epsilon_2$ results in

$\displaystyle\lim_{\left\vert{h}\right\vert\to 0}\frac{\phi_1[y;h]-\phi_2[y;h]}{\left\vert{h}\right\vert}=0$

The given limit with the linearity of the term in the numerator allows us to use the lemma.

This concludes to $\phi_1[y;h]-\phi_2[y;h]=0$ meaning that there is only one form the differential of a differentiable functional can obtain.

$\blacksquare$