The ingerals of a function on two different measures

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on whether the integral of a strictly positive function over a set of positive measure is strictly positive. It involves mathematical reasoning and exploration of properties related to measures and integrals.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant asserts that the integral of a strictly positive function on a set of positive measure must be strictly positive, suggesting that attempting to prove otherwise leads to a contradiction.
  • Another participant provides a detailed argument involving the subadditivity of measures and the construction of sets based on the function's values, concluding that the integral must be greater than zero.
  • A similar argument is reiterated by a different participant, reinforcing the reasoning about the measures and the properties of the integral.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the integral of a strictly positive function over a set of positive measure is strictly positive, though the discussion does not explore any counterarguments or alternative views.

Contextual Notes

The discussion relies on the properties of measures and integrals, but does not address potential limitations or assumptions that might affect the conclusions drawn.

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Is the integral of a strictly positive function on a set of positive measure strictly positive? Thankis a lot
 
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Yes. I don't know how to elaborate, but if you try to prove otherwise (integral = 0), you will get a contradiction.
 
Yes. Suppose f:A-->R is such a function. We have that

[tex]A=\bigcup_{n\in\mathbb{N}}f^{-1}\left(\left[\frac{1}{n},+\infty\right)\right)[/tex]

and so by subadditivity of the measure

[tex]\mbox{mes}(A)\leq \sum_n\mbox{mes}\left(f^{-1}\left(\left[\frac{1}{n},+\infty\right)\right)\right)[/tex]

Since mes(A)>0, it must be that

[tex]A_n:=\mbox{mes}\left(f^{-1}\left(\left[\frac{1}{n},+\infty\right)\right)\right)>0[/tex]

for some n. By definition

[tex]\int_Af=\sup_h\left{\int_Ah\right}[/tex]

where h:A-->R denotes a positive measurable stair function bounded above by f.

It follows that

[tex]\int_A f\geq \int_{A_n}\frac{1}{n}=\frac{1}{n}\mbox{mes}(A_n)>0[/tex]
 
quasar987 said:
Yes. Suppose f:A-->R is such a function. We have that

[tex]A=\bigcup_{n\in\mathbb{N}}f^{-1}\left(\left[\frac{1}{n},+\infty\right)\right)[/tex]

and so by subadditivity of the measure

[tex]\mbox{mes}(A)\leq \sum_n\mbox{mes}\left(f^{-1}\left(\left[\frac{1}{n},+\infty\right)\right)\right)[/tex]

Since mes(A)>0, it must be that A_n:=mes(f^{-1}\left(\left[\frac{1}{n},+\infty\right)\right))>0 for some n. By definition

[tex]\int_Af=\sup_h\left{\int_Ah\right}[/tex]

where h:A-->R denotes a positive measurable stair function bounded above by f.

It follows that

[tex]\int_A f\geq \int_{A_n}\frac{1}{n}=\frac{1}{n}\mbox{mes}A_n>0[/tex]

i see. thanks a lot indeed.
 

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