Sensitivity analysis consists of a set of tools that can be utilized in the context of optimization, optimal design, or simply system analysis to assess the influence of parameters on the state of the system. Continuous sensitivity methods construct a sensitivity equation whose solution
provides the sensitivity of the state variable with respect to a parameter. To utilize such information, computational methods are typically applied. This book discusses certain pitfalls that can arise when sensitivities are computed for systems whose sensitivities exist in a function space. In addition, it carefully presents the theory and motivating examples for avoiding these pitfalls.