Integral of Positive Measurable Function as Limit of Integrals of Positive Simple Functions
Theorem
Let $\struct {X, \Sigma, \mu}$ be a measure space.
Let $f: X \to \overline \R$ be a positive $\Sigma$-measurable function.
For each $n \in \N$, let $f_n : X \to \R$ be a positive simple function, such that:
- $\ds \lim_{n \mathop \to \infty} f_n = f$
and:
- for each $x \in X$, the sequence $\sequence {\map {f_n} x}_{n \mathop \in \N}$ is increasing
where $\lim$ denotes a pointwise limit.
Then:
- $\ds \int f \rd \mu = \lim_{n \mathop \to \infty} \int f_n \rd \mu$
where the integral signs denote $\mu$-integration.
Proof
Let $\EE^+$ be the space of positive simple functions.
Note that since:
- for each $x \in X$, the sequence $\sequence {\map {f_n} x}$ is increasing
we have that:
- $f_i \le f_j$
whenever $i \le j$.
Since $f_n \to f$, from Monotone Convergence Theorem (Real Analysis): Increasing Sequence, we further obtain:
- $f_i \le f_j \le f$
whenever $i \le j$.
From Integral of Positive Simple Function is Monotone:
- $\ds \int f_i \rd \mu \le \int f_j \rd \mu \le \int f \rd \mu$
So the sequence:
- $\ds \sequence {\int f_n \rd \mu}_{n \mathop \in \N}$
is increasing and bounded.
So, by Monotone Convergence Theorem (Real Analysis): Increasing Sequence, it converges with:
- $\ds \lim_{n \mathop \to \infty} \int f_n \rd \mu \le \int f \rd \mu$
We now want to show:
- $\ds \int f \rd \mu \le \lim_{n \mathop \to \infty} \int f_n$
at which point we will have:
- $\ds \int f \rd \mu = \lim_{n \mathop \to \infty} \int f_n \rd \mu$
We will show that for all $g \in \EE^+$ with $g \le f$, we have:
- $\ds \int g \rd \mu \le \lim_{n \mathop \to \infty} \int f \rd \mu$
At which point, we have:
- $\ds \sup \set {\int g \rd \mu : g \le f, g \in \EE^+} \le \lim_{n \mathop \to \infty} \int f \rd \mu$
so that, by the definition of $\mu$-integration:
- $\ds \int f \rd \mu \le \lim_{n \mathop \to \infty} \int f \rd \mu$
This will give us:
- $\ds \int f \rd \mu = \lim_{n \mathop \to \infty} \int f \rd \mu$
as required.
For each $n \in \N$, define $h_n : X \to \R$ by:
- $h_n = \min \set {g, f_n}$
From Simple Function is Measurable:
- $g$ and $f_n$ are both $\Sigma$-measurable for each $n \in \N$.
So, from Pointwise Minimum of Measurable Functions is Measurable:
- $h_n$ is $\Sigma$-measurable for each $n \in \N$.
Also, from Pointwise Minimum of Simple Functions is Simple:
- $h_n$ is simple for each $n \in \N$.
We will show that:
- $\ds \lim_{n \mathop \to \infty} h_n = g$
and that:
- for each $x \in X$, the sequence $\sequence {\map {h_n} x}$ is increasing.
At which point, we will be able to apply the Monotone Convergence Theorem for Positive Simple Functions.
Let $x \in X$.
Since $f_n \to f$ and $f - g \ge 0$, there exists $N \in \N$ such that:
- $\size {\map {f_n} x - \map f x} \le \map f x - \map g x$
for $n \ge N$.
Then:
- $\map {f_n} x \ge \map g x$
for $n \ge N$.
So:
- $\map {h_n} x = \map g x$
for $n \ge N$, giving:
- $\ds \map g x = \lim_{n \mathop \to \infty} \map {h_n} x$
from Tail of Convergent Sequence.
Since $x \in X$ was arbitrary:
- $\ds g = \lim_{n \mathop \to \infty} h_n$
We move on to showing that $\sequence {\map {h_n} x}$ is increasing for each $x \in X$.
For each $x \in X$, let $N_x$ be the least $N$ such that:
- $\map {f_n} x \ge \map g x$
If $N_x = 1$, then:
- $\map {h_n} x = \map g x$
for each $n \in \N$, so:
- the sequence $\sequence {\map {h_n} x}_{n \mathop \in \N}$ is constant.
Hence:
- the sequence $\sequence {\map {h_n} x}_{n \mathop \in \N}$ is increasing.
Now suppose $N_x > 1$.
Then, for $n < N_x$, we have that:
- $\map {h_n} x = \map {f_n} x$
So that, for $i \le j < N_x$, we have:
- $\map {h_i} x \le \map {h_j} x < \map g x$
So:
- $\sequence {\map {h_n} x}_{n \mathop \in \N}$ is increasing for each $x \in X$.
Applying the Monotone Convergence Theorem for Positive Simple Functions, we then have:
- $\ds \int g \rd \mu = \lim_{n \mathop \to \infty} \int h_n \rd \mu$
We have that:
- $h_n \le f_n$
for each $n \in \N$.
So, from Integral of Positive Measurable Function is Monotone:
- $\ds \int h_n \rd \mu \le \int f_n \rd \mu$
for each $n \in \N$
Hence by Inequality Rule for Real Sequences:
- $\ds \lim_{n \mathop \to \infty} \int h_n \rd \mu \le \lim_{n \mathop \to \infty} \int f_n \rd \mu$
This gives:
- $\ds \int g \rd \mu \le \lim_{n \mathop \to \infty} \int f_n \rd \mu$
hence the required conclusion.
$\blacksquare$
Sources
- 2005: René L. Schilling: Measures, Integrals and Martingales ... (previous) ... (next): $9.7$