Why Does a Real-Valued Function on $[0,\infty)$ Have Limit $0$ at Infinity?

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    2016
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SUMMARY

A uniformly continuous, Lebesgue integrable, real-valued function defined on the interval $[0,\infty)$ converges to a limit of $0$ as the variable approaches infinity. This conclusion is based on the properties of uniform continuity and Lebesgue integrability, which ensure that the function's values become arbitrarily small over sufficiently large intervals. The discussion emphasizes the importance of these mathematical properties in establishing the behavior of functions at infinity.

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  • Understanding of uniform continuity
  • Knowledge of Lebesgue integrability
  • Familiarity with real-valued functions
  • Basic concepts of limits in calculus
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  • Study the implications of uniform continuity in real analysis
  • Explore Lebesgue integration techniques and their applications
  • Investigate the behavior of functions at infinity
  • Learn about the relationship between integrability and convergence
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Euge
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Here is this week's POTW:

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Explain why a uniformly continuous, Lebesgue integrable, real-valued function on $[0,\infty)$ has limit $0$ at infinity.

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No one answered this week's problem. You can read my solution below.
Let $f$ be such a function. Let $\epsilon > 0$. Since $f$ is uniformly continuous, there exists $\delta > 0$ such that for all $x,y$, $|x - y| < \delta$ implies $|f(x) - f(y)| < \epsilon$. Since $f$ is Lebesgue integrable on $[0,\infty)$, there exists $M > 0$ such that for all $x,y$, $x > y > M$ implies $\int_y^x |f(t)|\, dt < \epsilon$. Given $x > M$, there exists $c \in (x,x+\delta)$ such that $|f(c)|\delta = \int_x^{x+\delta} |f(t)|\, dt$, and $|f(c)|\delta < \epsilon$. Since $|x - c| < \delta$, then $|f(x) - f(c)| < \epsilon$. Hence

$$|f(x)| \le |f(x) - f(c)| + |f(c)| < \epsilon + \frac{\epsilon}{\delta} = \left(1 + \frac{1}{\delta}\right)\epsilon.$$

Since $\epsilon$ was arbitary, $\lim\limits_{x\to \infty} f(x) = 0$.
 

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