Why Does a Zero Integral Imply a Function Is Zero Almost Everywhere?

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Since the integral of f over X is 0, the integral of f over A must also be zero. But if the integral over A is 0 and f is positive on A, then the only way this can happen is if f=0 almost everywhere on A. This contradicts our assumption that f is positive on A. Therefore, f must be 0 almost everywhere. In summary, if the integral of a measurable function f over a measure space (X,m) is 0, then f must be equal to 0 almost everywhere.
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Ja4Coltrane
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Homework Statement



Let (X,m) be a measure space, f:X->[0, infinity] be measurable.

If the integral over X of f is 0, show that f=0 almost everywhere



Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



Suppose that f is nonzero on A, m(A)>0.

I've reduced problem to proving that the following is impossible:

f is positive on a set of nonzero measure and
{x such that f(x)>epsilon} has zero measure for all epsilon greater than zero.

I don't know how to do that though...

Any help?
 
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  • #2
Suppose the statement is not true- that there exist a set A, of measure greater than 0, on which f is positive. Then the integral of f over A alone is positive and, since f is never negative, the integral of f over X is not less than the integral of f over A.
 

1. What is basic (Lebesgue) integration?

Basic (Lebesgue) integration is a mathematical concept used to calculate the area under a curve or the volume under a surface. It is a generalization of the more well-known Riemann integral and is used to integrate more complex functions.

2. What is the Lebesgue measure?

The Lebesgue measure is a mathematical tool used to assign a numerical value to a set in a given space. It is used in Lebesgue integration to determine the size or extent of the set being integrated over.

3. How is Lebesgue integration different from Riemann integration?

Lebesgue integration differs from Riemann integration in the way it partitions the interval being integrated over. While Riemann integration divides the interval into smaller subintervals of equal width, Lebesgue integration divides it based on the behavior of the function being integrated.

4. What are the benefits of using Lebesgue integration?

Lebesgue integration allows for the integration of more complex functions that cannot be integrated using Riemann integration. It also has better convergence properties and can handle discontinuous functions more easily.

5. Where is Lebesgue integration used?

Lebesgue integration is used in various fields such as physics, engineering, and economics to calculate areas, volumes, and probabilities. It is also used in advanced mathematics courses and research to solve complex integration problems.

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