Mapping between Euclidean Spaces Measurable iff Components Measurable

Theorem
Let $\R^n$ and $\R^m$ be Euclidean spaces.

Denote by $\BB^n$ and $\BB^m$ their respective Borel $\sigma$-algebras.

Denote with $\BB$ the Borel $\sigma$-algebra on $\R$.

Let $f: \R^n \to \R^m$ be a mapping, and write:


 * $\map f {\mathbf x} = \begin{bmatrix} \map {f_1} {\mathbf x} \\ \vdots \\ \map {f_m} {\mathbf x} \end{bmatrix}$

with, for $1 \le i \le m$, $f_i: \R^n \to \R$.

Then $f$ is $\BB^n \, / \, \BB^m$-measurable :


 * $\forall i: f_i: \R^n \to \R$ is $\BB^n \, / \, \BB$-measurable

Necessary Condition
Suppose that $f$ is $\BB^n \, / \, \BB^m$-measurable.

It is to be shown that for $1 \le i \le m$, $f_i: \R^n \to \R$ is $\BB^n \, / \, \BB$-measurable.

By Mapping Measurable iff Measurable on Generator and Characterization of Euclidean Borel Sigma-Algebra, it suffices to show that:


 * $\map {f_i^{-1} } {\openint a b} \in \BB^n$

for every open real interval $\openint a b$.

Since $\map f {\mathbf x} = \mathbf y$, for all $i$, $\map {f_i} {\mathbf x} = y_i$, it follows that:


 * $\mathbf x \in \map {f^{-1} } {\mathbf y} \iff \forall i: \mathbf x \in \map {f_i^{-1} } {y_i}$

That is, $\ds \mathbf x \in \bigcap_{i \mathop = 1}^m \map {f_i^{-1} } {y_i}$.

By Preimage of Union under Mapping, it follows that for any $B \in \BB^m$:


 * $\mathbf x \in \map {f^{-1} } B \iff \exists \mathbf y \in B: \forall i: \mathbf x \in \map {f_i^{-1} } {y_i}$

In particular, consider the open set $B = \set {\mathbf y \in \R^n: y_i \in \openint a b}$.

Then by construction of $B$, $\mathbf x \in \map {f_i^{-1} } {\openint a b}$ $\map f x \in B$.

Therefore, $\map {f_i^{-1} } {\openint a b} = \map {f^{-1} } B$.

Since $B$ is open, it is also measurable by Characterization of Euclidean Borel Sigma-Algebra.

Thus $\map {f_i^{-1} } {\openint a b} \in \BB^n$ as $f$ was assumed $\BB^n \, / \, \BB^m$-measurable.

Sufficient Condition
Suppose that all $f_i$ are $\BB^n \, / \, \BB$-measurable.

It is to be shown that $f$ is $\BB^n \, / \, \BB^m$-measurable.

By Mapping Measurable iff Measurable on Generator and Characterization of Euclidean Borel Sigma-Algebra, it suffices to show that:


 * $\map {f^{-1} } {\horectr {\mathbf a} {\mathbf b}} \in \BB^n$

for every half-open $m$-rectangle $\horectr {\mathbf a} {\mathbf b}$.

Now observe, for all $\mathbf x \in \R^n$:

Thus:


 * $\ds \map {f^{-1} } {\horectr {\mathbf a} {\mathbf b} } = \bigcap_{i \mathop = 1}^m \map {f_i^{-1} } {\hointr {a_i} {b_i} }$

Now the $f_i^{-1} \hointr {a_i} {b_i}$ are measurable sets since the $f_i$ are $\BB^n \, / \, \BB$-measurable.

Since $\BB^n$ is a $\sigma$-algebra, Sigma-Algebra Closed under Countable Intersection applies, and it follows that:


 * $\map {f^{-1} } {\horectr {\mathbf a} {\mathbf b} } \in \BB^n$