Is the Lebesgue Integral of sin x / x from 0 to infinity Nonexistent?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter muzialis
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Integrability
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the Lebesgue integral of the function sin(x)/x from 0 to infinity, specifically questioning whether this integral exists or not. Participants explore the properties of the function in the context of both Lebesgue and Riemann integrability, as well as related concepts in measure theory.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant requests an argument to prove that the Lebesgue integral of sin(x)/x from 0 to infinity does not exist.
  • Another participant presents a proof showing that the integral of the absolute value of sin(x)/x diverges, suggesting that the Lebesgue integral does not exist.
  • A third participant expresses confusion about the function being non-Lebesgue integrable while being Riemann integrable in the improper sense, asking for a heuristic explanation.
  • There is a mention of a statement from Wikipedia regarding the integral being like infinity minus infinity, which is not understood by one participant.
  • Another participant notes that sin(x)/x is integrable in the sense that it can be integrated from 0 to X, with X approaching infinity, and that this holds for both Riemann and Lebesgue definitions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the integrability of sin(x)/x, with some arguing it is non-Lebesgue integrable while others assert it is Riemann integrable in the improper sense. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of these integrability properties.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes references to measure theory and the behavior of the function as it approaches infinity, but there are unresolved questions about the convergence of related functions and the implications of certain mathematical statements.

muzialis
Messages
156
Reaction score
1
Hello all, can someone please direct me towards an argument proving the Lebesgue integral from 0 to infinity of sin x / x does not exist?
Many thanks
 
Physics news on Phys.org
We need to show that

\int_0^\infty{\left|\frac{\sin(x)}{x}\right|dx}=+\infty

For this, we set

J_k=\int_{k\pi}^{(k+1)\pi}{\left|\frac{\sin(x)}{x}\right|dx}

Change the variables: y=x-k\pi to obtain

J_k=\int_0^\pi{\frac{\sin(y)}{y+k\pi}dy}

From y+k\pi\leq (k+1)\pi follows

J_k\geq \frac{1}{(k+1)\pi}\int_0^\pi{\sin(x)dx}=\frac{2}{(k+1)\pi}

Thus

\int_0^{+\infty}{\left|\frac{\sin(x)}{x}\right|dx}\geq \sum_{k=0}^{+\infty}{J_k}=+\infty
 
Micromass,

many thanks for thr neat proof.
The fact that this function is no Lebesgue integrable but is it Riemann integrable in the improper sense is the most puzzling to me.
Can you please maybe attempt an heuristic explanation too?

Wikipedia says that "from the point of view of meausre theory the integral is like infty - infty", which I do not understand at all.

Also, on the integrabiliyt of thre function 1/x. In this thread https://www.physicsforums.com/archive/index.php/t-276377.htmlvigVig offers a proof, but i really do not get why would phi(x) converge to infty, and i did not manage to clarify.
Many thanks for your help

Muzialis
 
sinx/x is integrable only in the sense that you can integrate it from 0 to X and then let X become infinite. The integral from 0 to X exists in both Riemann and Lebesgue definitions.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 33 ·
2
Replies
33
Views
7K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
2K