Continuously smooth functions and Lp space

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around proving properties of continuous functions and their membership in Lp spaces, specifically addressing two main assertions regarding functions with compact support and local integrability. The scope includes theoretical aspects of functional analysis and properties of continuous functions.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that if a function f is continuous and has compact support, then it belongs to Lp for every 1 ≤ p ≤ ∞.
  • Others argue that continuous functions on compact domains are uniformly continuous and bounded, which may help in proving their integrability.
  • A participant suggests estimating the integral of |f|^p to justify that f belongs to Lp.
  • There is a question about whether the integral of a continuous function over a compact interval can be infinite, with some participants asserting it is finite due to boundedness.
  • Another participant questions the necessity of finding a specific constant C when the integral is assumed to be finite.
  • One participant proposes proving that the space of smooth continuous functions is dense in Lp, questioning the differences in proving the two assertions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the necessity of finding specific constants in the proof and the implications of boundedness on integrability. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach to proving the assertions.

Contextual Notes

Some participants highlight the importance of compactness in the arguments, while others question the assumptions made about the finiteness of integrals without providing detailed justifications.

sdickey9480
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How might I prove the following?

1) If f ∈ C(Rn) and f has compact support, then f ∈ Lp(Rn) for every 1 ≤ p ≤ ∞.

2) If f ∈ C(Rn), then f ∈ Lp_{loc}(Rn) for every 1 ≤ p < ∞.

(Where C(Rn) is the space of continuous functions on Rn)
 
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What is special about continuous functions on compact domains? (apply this to both parts)
 
They are uniformly continuous
 
sdickey9480 said:
They are uniformly continuous

Yes, but what else?? Can functions on compact domains grow arbitrarly large??
 
No, b/c they are bounded.
 
Yes. So use that to find an estimate for the integral

\int_{\mathbb{R}^n} |f|^p
 
Not following. Could you provide a little more detail?
 
So since we are dealing with bounded continuous functions, by finding an estimate to the aforementioned integral this will in turn justify that f must also belong to Lp?
 
If we can show that

\int_{\mathbb{R}^n} |f|^p

is not infinite, then the function is in L^p. So we must find some real number C such that

\int_{\mathbb{R}^n} |f|^p\leq C
 
  • #10
It might help to first answer the (hopefully easy) question

If f(x) is a continuous function on the reals, is \int_a^b |f(x)|^p dx ever infinite?

If you can figure out the answer to this you can solve micromass's question
 
  • #11
Won't the integral always be finite? Hence do we even need to find a particular C, M, etc.? Can't we just assume there exists one, again b/c integral is finite? Am I using this same idea for 1) and 2)?
 
  • #12
Why do you think the integral will always be finite?? Where did you use compactness??
 
  • #13
Finite because it's bounded on a compact interval?
 
  • #14
Can I just prove the space of smooth continuous functions is dense in Lp, hence if a function belongs to C(R) it belongs to Lp(R). If so, what's the difference in the proof of 1) & 2)?
 

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