Let MM be a paracompact and let {Ui}iI\{U_i\}_{i\in I} be an open cover of MM. Then there is a family of smooth functions {ρi:M[0,1]}iI\{\rho_i:M\to[0,1]\}_{i\in I} such that:

  1. the supports supp(ρi)\operatorname{supp}(\rho_i) form a locally finite family;
  2. supp(ρi)Ui\operatorname{supp}(\rho_i)\subseteq U_i for every ii; and
  3. iIρi(x)=1\sum_{i\in I}\rho_i(x)=1 for every xMx\in M.

Such a family is a .

Use

Local finiteness makes weighted sums locally finite, allowing compatible local constructions to be assembled globally. This is a standard tool for constructing metrics and .