For an a.e. differentiable continuous function $f$ with $f’$ integrable, is it true in general that $f(b)-f(a) \geq \int_a^b f'(x) dx$

absolute-continuitycalculusreal-analysis

I am aware that the fundamental theorem of calculus fails for functions which are a.e. differentiable but not absolutely continuous, such as the Cantor function.

However, I wonder if a general inequality still holds in one direction. That is, for any continuous $f : [a,b] \to \mathbb{R}$ that is differentiable almost everywhere on the interval $[a,b]$ with $f'$ being integrable, I wonder if we have in general
\begin{equation}
f(b)-f(a) \geq \int_a^b f'(x)dx.
\end{equation}

Or are there counterexamples even for this inequality? Could anyone please help me?

Best Answer

The Cantor function allows you to go up or down without being accounted by the derivative.

Let $g$ be the Cantor function and define $$ f(x)=\begin{cases} x,&\ 0\leq x \leq \frac12\\[0.2cm] 1-g(x),&\ \frac12<x \leq1 \end{cases} $$ Then $f$ is continuous, it is differentiable almost everywhere, $f(1)=f(0)$, and $$ \int_0^1f'=\int_0^{1/2}1=\frac12. $$