Integration by parts if f' ang g' are not continuous

In summary, the Integration by Parts Theorem states that if f' and g' are continuous, then - ∫f'(x)g(x)dx = f(x)g(x) - ∫f(x)g'(x)dx.- Henstock integrals exist if and only if fg' is continuous.- The substitution rule also holds if and only if f and g are absolutely continuous.
  • #1
Boorglar
210
10
The Integration by Parts Theorem states that if f' and g' are continuous, then

∫f'(x)g(x)dx = f(x)g(x) - ∫f(x)g'(x)dx.

My question is, are those assumptions necessary? For example, this holds even if only one of the functions has a continuous derivative (say f' is not continuous but g' is) since in this case the right side can be differentiated using the FTC (since f*g' is continuous) and will yield f'*g, thus being an antiderivative of f'*g.

If BOTH f' and g' are discontinuous, is there an example for which this theorem does NOT work?
I tried finding one but I couldn't... Or is it still true, but much harder to prove?

A similar question arises with the substitution rule. They assume continuity of g' in the expression f(g(x))*g'(x)
 
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  • #2
The result also seems to be true (for indefinite integrals) in the more general case that [itex]f^\prime[/itex] and [itex]g^\prime[/itex] are merely Riemann-integrable. This restriction is obviously necessary, since if [itex]f^\prime[/itex] were not integrable, then there would be nothing to guarantee that [itex]f^\prime g[/itex] is integrable. So the integrals might not make sense.

Very nice and elegant theorems can be obtained if we extend the theory of integrals a bit. If we take Henstock integrals instead of Riemann integrals, then we can obtain the following theorems

If f and g are differentiable. Then f'g is Henstock-integrable if and only if fg' is. In that case
[tex]\int_a^b f^\prime g= fg\vert_a^b - \int_a^b fg^\prime[/tex]
 
  • #3
According to G. Folland's "Real Analysis", it is sufficient that f and g be absolutely continuous. In that case the derivative exists a.e. and the fundamental theorem of calculus holds.

You can weaken it slightly by instead assuming that f and g are of bounded variation. However, the result changes slightly depending in part on whether there are any points where both f and g are discontinuous.
 

Related to Integration by parts if f' ang g' are not continuous

1. How do you use integration by parts if f' and g' are not continuous?

When f' and g' are not continuous, we can still use integration by parts by applying the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus. This states that if a function g is continuous on an interval [a,b] and f is its antiderivative, then the definite integral of g(x) from a to b is equal to f(b) - f(a). Therefore, we can evaluate the integral using this formula instead of the standard integration by parts formula.

2. What are the limitations of using integration by parts if f' and g' are not continuous?

The main limitation of using integration by parts when f' and g' are not continuous is that it may not always give an accurate result. This is because the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus assumes that the functions are continuous, and if they are not, then the result may be incorrect. Additionally, some integrals may not be solvable using this method if the functions are not continuous.

3. Can we use integration by parts if the functions are piecewise continuous?

Yes, we can still use integration by parts if the functions are piecewise continuous. However, we may need to break the integral into smaller parts and apply the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus to each part. This can result in a more complicated calculation, but it is still possible to solve the integral using this method.

4. Are there any alternative methods to integration by parts if f' and g' are not continuous?

Yes, there are alternative methods to integration by parts if f' and g' are not continuous. One method is called integration by substitution, where we substitute a variable in the integral to make it easier to solve. Another method is called integration by partial fractions, which is used for integrals involving rational functions.

5. Is there a general rule for when we can use integration by parts if f' and g' are not continuous?

There is no general rule for when we can use integration by parts if f' and g' are not continuous. It ultimately depends on the specific functions and integral being solved. It is important to consider the limitations and alternatives to integration by parts if the functions are not continuous before using this method.

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