【正文】
be represented by single number, the balance. The state of the Union can be represented by such things as gross national product, percent unemployment, the balance of trade deficit, ect. For the systems considered in this article the state variables may take on any scalar value, real or plex. That is ixC? . Although some systems require an infinite number of state variables, only system which can be described by a finite number n of state variables will be considered here. Then the state can be represented by an n ponent state vector ? ?12 Tnx x x x? It belongs to an n dimensional vector space defined over the field C. For Continuoustime system, the state is defined for all time in some interval, for example, a continually varying temperature or voltage. Discretetime system have their state defined only at discrete times, as with the monthly financial statement or the annual State of the Union message. Continuoustime and discretetime systems can be discussed simultaneously by defining the times of interest as T. For continuoustime system T consists of the set of times ? ?01 kt t t . In either case the initial time could be ?? and the final time could be ?? in som