Is Ergoff's Theorem Vital to Understanding Measure & Integration Theory?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

Ergoff's Theorem is essential in Measure and Integration Theory, stating that if a sequence of measurable functions converges almost everywhere to a measurable function, it converges almost uniformly. Recommended textbooks for understanding this theorem include "Wheeden and Zygmund" for its geometric approach, and "Bartle's The Elements of Integration" for its comprehensive coverage. While many students struggle with the subject, the theorem's significance in real mathematics is universally acknowledged, despite varying preferences for different textbooks.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of finite measure spaces
  • Familiarity with measurable functions
  • Basic knowledge of convergence concepts in analysis
  • Experience with geometric approaches in mathematics
NEXT STEPS
  • Study "Wheeden and Zygmund" for a geometric perspective on measure theory
  • Explore "Bartle's The Elements of Integration" for a thorough understanding of integration
  • Investigate "Royden's Real Analysis" for advanced measure theory concepts
  • Learn about Egorov's theorem and Lebesgue's criterion for Riemann integrability
USEFUL FOR

Mathematics students, educators, and researchers focusing on Measure and Integration Theory, particularly those seeking clarity in complex concepts and effective learning resources.

Nusc
Messages
752
Reaction score
2
What's a well written textbook on this topic? A textbook that has about the same exposition as Munkres Topology.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
halmos
 
oh, god! I am taking a class and we are using Friedman. I have never disliked a math course so much. Here is a theorem:

Let X be a finite measure space. If a sequence {f_n} of almost everywhere real-valued, measurable functions converges almost everywhere to an almost everywhere real valued measurable function f, then {f_n} converges to f almost uniformly.

The pendantics astound!
 
What on Earth are pendantics? That theorem is non-trivial and very useful, if you ask me.

I'd recommend Wheeden and Zygmund. The exposition is terse, but they build up from R^n using a geometric approach, which makes life much easier than the standard "outer measure is a set function satisfying the following" approach.
 
The course I took as a student used Bartle's The Elements of Integration, and I quite like it. It has been bundled together with The Elements of Lebesgue Measure and reissued as http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0471042226,descCd-tableOfContents.html" .
 
Last edited by a moderator:
In my youth i never found a book i could really learn this topic well from. i tried halmos and found it extremely dry and formal. i tried lang's analysis and kind of liked it but still had a very hard time. i tried m.e.munroe but again found it pretty abstract.

as little as i care for rudin's undergrad book, the grad version, real and complex analysis may be better.

my favorite, at least in places, was riesz and nagy.

years ago many people also liked the first chapter of royden, but again i read it and still felt little connection to the material.

more recently some of the experts in my department, who really understand the subject, seem to like wheeden and zygmund.
 
zhentil said:
What on Earth are pendantics? That theorem is non-trivial and very useful, if you ask me.

I'd recommend Wheeden and Zygmund. The exposition is terse, but they build up from R^n using a geometric approach, which makes life much easier than the standard "outer measure is a set function satisfying the following" approach.

pedantic: it is a adjective, and it means to be overly concerned with minute details.

I used the word as a noun which may or may not be "allowed."

I didn't say anything about it being trivial or a waste of paper!
 
Last edited:
eastside00_99 said:
pedantic: it is a adjective, and it means to be overly concerned with minute details.

I used the word as a noun which may or may not be "allowed."

I didn't say anything about it being trivial or a waste of paper!
Welcome to real mathematics! :-p Minute details matter!
 
I have to agree with mathwonk. There doesn't seem to be any really good measure theory books out there. I've tried sampling a lot of them, and never found one that made me think "Wow, this is really well-written!".

That said, I second George's recommendation of Bartle. Royden is also alright, but I found it annoying that he leaves lots of important results to the exercises (e.g. Egorov's theorem, Lebesgue's criterion for Riemann integrability, etc.). It isn't a great text, but if you read it and do the exercises, you will learn measure theory. It also covers a lot more than Bartle.
 
  • #10
las3rjock said:
Welcome to real mathematics! :-p Minute details matter!

What is fake mathematics? No, I know they matter. I mean this is Ergoff's theorem or something which means it must be important. Its just I prefer geometry to analysis, and have realized that the only reason I liked functional analysis last semester is because I liked considering things like functions as points. Maybe once I take multivariable complex analysis, this stuff will come alive to me. Anyway, I think I am allowed to not like a theorem or a subject no matter how important it is and still be a member of this real mathematics club.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
22
Views
3K
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
2K
Replies
41
Views
7K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
1K