where "H" is the Heaviside step function – the notation "formula_43" is to emphasize that "u" is a "parameter" (fixed in any instance—the time when the cash flow will occur), while "t" is a "variable" (time). In other words, future cash flows are exponentially discounted (exp) by the sum (integral, formula_44) of the future discount rates (formula_45 for future, "r"("v") for discount rates), while past cash flows are worth 0 (formula_46), because they have already occurred. Note that the value "at" the moment of a cash flow is not well-defined – there is a discontinuity at that point, and one can use a convention (assume cash flows have already occurred, or not already occurred), or simply not define the value at that point.