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If continuously differentiable $F_j,F$ converge uniformly on a compact interval and have uniformly bounded total variation of a function, then $\int b{F}_j^{\prime }\to \int b{F}^{\prime }$ for every continuous $b$. For continuously differentiable test functions this is integration by parts. Uniform approximation by polynomials extends the conclusion to continuous tests using the variation bound.

A weak formulation multiplies a differential equation by a test function, integrates, and uses integration by parts to move derivatives away from the unknown function. Natural boundary conditions appear in the resulting boundary terms.

Convergence in the displayed sense combines strong function convergence with weak-star convergence of derivative vector measures against $C_0$ tests. Strong $L^1$ convergence and a uniform variation bound imply the derivative convergence by integration by parts and uniform test-function approximation. Conversely the Uniform boundedness principle bounds the derivative measures of a convergent sequence.

For a nonreal regular Rayleigh equation for inviscid shear flow mode vanishing at the walls, put $F=\hat{w}/(U-c)$. The equation becomes $[(U-c{)}^2{F}^{\prime }{]}^{\prime }-k^2(U-c{)}^{2}F=0$. Multiplication by $\overline{F}$ and integration by parts gives the displayed identity. With $Q=|F^{\prime }{|}^2+k^2|F{|}^2$, its imaginary and real parts give $\int UQ=c_r\int Q$ and $\int U^{2}Q=|c{|}^2\int Q$. Since $(U-U_{\min })(U_{\max }-U)\ge 0$, these imply Howard's semicircle theorem.