Non Riemann Integrable multiplication of functions

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding specific functions that are Riemann integrable individually but whose product or composition is not Riemann integrable. The subject area is Riemann integration and its properties, particularly focusing on the behavior of functions under multiplication and composition.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss examples of functions f and g that meet the criteria for both parts of the problem. There is exploration of the implications of unbounded functions and their integrability. Some participants question the relationship between being unbounded and not being Riemann integrable.

Discussion Status

Some participants have successfully identified functions for part (b) and are exploring potential solutions for part (a). There is a productive exchange of ideas, with suggestions for functions that could work, although no consensus has been reached on the final answers.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the functions must be chosen carefully to ensure they are Riemann integrable individually while failing to be so when multiplied or composed. There is an acknowledgment of the complexity involved in defining Riemann integrability for certain types of functions.

looserlama
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Homework Statement



Do the following:

(a) find an interval I and functions f, g: I → R such that f and g are both Riemann integrable, but f g is not Riemann integrable.

(b) find an interval I and functions f, g: I → R such that f and g are both Riemann integrable, but g ◦ f is not Riemann integrable.


Homework Equations



Apparently there are a couple ways to define the Riemann integral, so this is the definition we're using. It obviously shouldn't matter for this question, but just for notation I guess.

For a function f on a compact time domain [a,b]:

If {Pj} is a sequence of partitions of [a,b] with j intervals Ij.

We say that f is Riemann integrable if lim as j→∞ of (A+(f,Pj) - A-(f,Pj)) = 0, i.e. \forallε > 0, \exists N such that \forallj ≥ N |A+(f,Pj) - A-(f,Pj)| < ε.

Where A+(f,Pj) = Ʃ(sup{f(t)|t\inIj} length(Ij)).

And A- is the same but with inf instead of sup.

For an unbounded function f on a non-compact time-domain T:

If f is Riemann integrable on any compact subset of T, then we basically just find the limit as the bounds of the integral approach the end of the interval T. If this integral exits, then f is Riemann intagrable.

The Attempt at a Solution



I think I managed to do (b), so here it is:

On I = [0,1)

g(t) = \frac{1}{t + 1} and f(t) = t - 1

Clearly these are both Riemann integrable on [0,1).

But then (g ◦ f)(t) = \frac{1}{t}

So ∫1/t dt = [ln|t|]from a to 1 = -ln(a) for 0<a<1.

Then lim as a→0 of -ln(a) is not defined.

Therefore g ◦ f is not Riemann integrable.

(I don't know if this is sufficient? Does this actually mean g ◦ f is not Riemann intagrable or is it just unbounded? Or are those equivalent? We just started this subject so I don't understand it that well yet.)

For (a):

I basically have no idea, I know it can't be done on a compact set, but apart from that I have no idea.

Any help for this would be greatly appreciated!
 
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Your solution for (b) is fine. g \circ f is not Riemann integrable because its graph near x = 0 is too "thick" to have finite area. Putting it another way, the function's value grows too rapidly as x approaches 0.

For (a), there's a simple example with f = g. Try to choose a function f such f^2 grows too rapidly as x approaches 0, but f grows slowly enough that you can integrate it.
 
looserlama said:

Homework Statement



Do the following:

(a) find an interval I and functions f, g: I → R such that f and g are both Riemann integrable, but f g is not Riemann integrable.

(b) find an interval I and functions f, g: I → R such that f and g are both Riemann integrable, but g ◦ f is not Riemann integrable.

Homework Equations



Apparently there are a couple ways to define the Riemann integral, so this is the definition we're using. It obviously shouldn't matter for this question, but just for notation I guess.

For a function f on a compact time domain [a,b]:

If {Pj} is a sequence of partitions of [a,b] with j intervals Ij.

We say that f is Riemann integrable if lim as j→∞ of (A+(f,Pj) - A-(f,Pj)) = 0, i.e. \forallε > 0, \exists N such that \forallj ≥ N |A+(f,Pj) - A-(f,Pj)| < ε.

Where A+(f,Pj) = Ʃ(sup{f(t)|t\inIj} length(Ij)).

And A- is the same but with inf instead of sup.

For an unbounded function f on a non-compact time-domain T:

If f is Riemann integrable on any compact subset of T, then we basically just find the limit as the bounds of the integral approach the end of the interval T. If this integral exits, then f is Riemann intagrable.

The Attempt at a Solution



I think I managed to do (b), so here it is:

On I = [0,1)

g(t) = \frac{1}{t + 1} and f(t) = t - 1

Clearly these are both Riemann integrable on [0,1).

But then (g ◦ f)(t) = \frac{1}{t}

So ∫1/t dt = [ln|t|]from a to 1 = -ln(a) for 0<a<1.

Then lim as a→0 of -ln(a) is not defined.

Therefore g ◦ f is not Riemann integrable.

(I don't know if this is sufficient? Does this actually mean g ◦ f is not Riemann intagrable or is it just unbounded? Or are those equivalent? We just started this subject so I don't understand it that well yet.)

For (a):

I basically have no idea, I know it can't be done on a compact set, but apart from that I have no idea.

Any help for this would be greatly appreciated!

You've got the first part. Your function is both unbounded and not integrable since the limit doesn't exist. There are functions that are unbounded that ARE integrable. Try t^(-1/3) on (0,1]. Does that give you any ideas for (a)?
 
Oh, I didn't think of that at all.

So if I chose f(t) = t-1/3 and g(t) = t-2/3 or just f(t) = g(t) = t-1/2

Then (fg)(t) = \frac{1}{t} which is not Riemann Integrable on I = (0,1] right?

Thanks so much for your guys!
 
looserlama said:
Oh, I didn't think of that at all.

So if I chose f(t) = t-1/3 and g(t) = t-2/3 or just f(t) = g(t) = t-1/2

Then (fg)(t) = \frac{1}{t} which is not Riemann Integrable on I = (0,1] right?

Thanks so much for your guys!

Sure, those are fine examples.
 

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