Are Measures Really Equal If Integrals of Continuous Functions Match?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the claim made by Rudin regarding the equality of measures based on the equality of integrals of continuous functions with respect to those measures. Participants explore the implications of this claim and the reasoning behind it, focusing on the relationship between integration and measure theory.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how Rudin concludes that equal integrals of continuous functions imply equal measures, suggesting that the use of real and imaginary parts in the proof may not be sufficient.
  • Another participant notes that integration acts as a positive linear functional on continuous functions and references representation theorems that relate linear functionals to measures.
  • A later reply asserts that since more general functions can be approximated by continuous functions, if the measures are equal on continuous functions, they must be equal everywhere.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express uncertainty about the reasoning connecting equal integrals to equal measures, indicating that multiple views and interpretations remain without a clear consensus.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not resolve the assumptions underlying the relationship between integration and measures, nor does it clarify the specific conditions under which the claims hold.

Gerald1
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between point (6) and (7) on page 323 of [this pdf file][1]. [1]: http://59clc.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/functional-analysis-_-rudin-2th.pdf

rudin claims that since the integrals (w.r.t two different measures) of real valued continuous functions are equal, then the measures are equal.

I think he concludes the integrals are equal for continuous functions by using real and imaginary parts, but even so how does it then follow that the measures are equal.

Many thanks
 
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Gerald said:
I think he concludes the integrals are equal for continuous functions by using real and imaginary parts, but even so how does it then follow that the measures are equal.
Integration is a positive linear functional on the space of continuous functions. It can be shown, as in the representation theorems, that such linear functionals induce measures for which the functional is integration along that induced measure.

Riesz?Markov?Kakutani representation theorem - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
ThePerfectHacker said:
Integration is a positive linear functional on the space of continuous functions. It can be shown, as in the representation theorems, that such linear functionals induce measures for which the functional is integration along that induced measure.

Riesz?Markov?Kakutani representation theorem - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

How does that show the measures are equal?
 
Gerald said:
How does that show the measures are equal?

Because more general functions can be approximated by continuous functions. If the measures are equal on the continuous functions they are forced to be equal everywhere.
 

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