If a set $A\subseteq\mathbb{R}^n$ is rectifiable, then $cA$ is rectifiable for all $c\in\mathbb{R}$

real-analysis

Recall:

Definition. Let $S$ be a bounded set in $\mathbf{R}^{n} .$ If the constant function is integrable over $S$, we say that $S$ is rectifiable, and we define the $(n$ dimensional) volume of $S$ by the equation
$$
v(S)=\int_{S} 1
$$

Theorem. A subset $S$ of $\mathbf{R}^{n}$ is rectifiable if and only if $S$ is bounded and Bd $S$ has measure zero.

For a set $A\subseteq\mathbb{R^n}$ and a scalar $c\in\mathbb{R}$ let $cA$ denote the set $\{cx:x\in A\}$. Prove the following:

Question If a set $A\subseteq\mathbb{R}^n$ is rectifiable, then $cA$ is rectifiable for all $c\in\mathbb{R}$

I couldn't prove, may you help? Thanks…

Best Answer

Hint: Apply a change of variables to get an integral over $S$.


Using the theorem instead:

  • Show that if $S$ is bounded, then $cS$ is bounded.
  • Show that if $\operatorname{Bd}(S)$ has measure zero, then $\operatorname{Bd}(cS)$ has measure zero.

We show that the latter condition holds as follows: first, note that $\operatorname{Bd}(cS) = c\operatorname{Bd}(S)$. Then, use the following.

Claim: If a set $K$ has measure zero, then so does the set $cK$.

Proof: The case where $c = 0$ is trivial. If $c\neq 0$, proceed as follows. Suppose that $\mu(K) = 0$. Let $\epsilon > 0$ be arbitrary. Let $(U_j)_{j=1}^\infty$ be a collection of open sets with $K \subset \bigcup_j U_j$ and $\sum_j \mu(U_j) = \epsilon/c$. We note that $cU_j$ is open for each $j$, $cK \subset \bigcup_j (cU_j)$, and $\sum_j \mu(cU_j) = \sum_j c \cdot \epsilon/c = \epsilon$.

We conclude that $cK$ is indeed of measure $0$.