[Math] Integrable but not differentiable function

calculusreal-analysis

Suppose $f(x)$ is continuous on $[a, b]$ except at a point $c$ in $(a, b)$ at which $f(x)$ has a jump discontinuity. For $x$ in $(a,b)$, set $F(x)=\int_a^xf(t) \, dt$. Show that $F(x)$ is continuous but not differentiable at $x =c$.

Hint: first explain why $f(x)$ is integrable on $[a,b]$, then consider one-sided derivatives of $F(x)$ at $x =c$.

I don't know how to step up because it seems conflict to me. $f(x)$ is not continuous because it has a jump but I have to prove it continuous, how? Can someone guide me, please.

Best Answer

To show $F$ is continuous at $c$:

We know that $f$ is Riemann-integrable because $f$ has only one discontinuity on $[a,b]$, and that discontinuity is a jump discontinuity (the one-sided limits of $f$ as $f$ approaches $c$ are finite), so $f$ is bounded on $[a,b]$. So by Lebesgue's criterion of Riemann integrability, $f$ is Riemann integrable on $[a,b]$.

Now $$F(x)-F(c)=\int_a^xf(t) \, dt-\int_a^cf(t) \, dt = \int_c^x f(t)\, dt$$

Since $f$ is bounded, for all $x \in [a,b]$, $|f(x)|\leq M$, for some $M \in \mathbb{R}$. Therefore: $$|\int_c^xf(t) \, dt| \leq \int_c^x|f(t)| \, dt \leq \int_c^xM \, dt$$

$$\implies -\int_c^x M\;dt\leq \int_c^x f(t)dt\leq \int_c^xM \;dt$$

$$\implies -M(x-c)\leq \int_c^x f(t)dt\leq M(x-c)$$

Taking the limit as $x$ tends to $ c$, the squeeze theorem says $\lim\limits_{x\to c}F(x)=F(c)$. So $F$ is continuous at $c$.

$\blacksquare$

To show that $F$ is not differentiable at $c$:

With help from Showing that an indefinite integral of a function with a jump discontinuity is not differentiable at the jump discontinuity

Lemma: The left derivative of $F(x)$ at $c$ is $\lim_\limits{x\to c^-} f(x)$ and the right derivative of $F(x)$ at $c$ is $\lim_\limits{x\to c^+} f(x)$.

Proof: Define $g:[a,c]\to \mathbb{R} $ by:

$$g(x) = \begin{cases} f(x) & \text{if } x<c \\ \lim_\limits{x \to c^-} f(x) & \text{if } x = c \end{cases} $$

Then $g$ is continuous on $[a,c]$.

Now for all $x \in [a,c]$, $F(x) = \int_a^x f(t) \,dt =\int_a^x g(t) \,dt $. Why? Well if we interpret the Riemann integral as a Lebesgue integral, this is very easy since $f=g$ almost everywhere on $[a,c]$. If you want all the technical details with Riemann integrals see here: Proving Riemann integral does not change when finite values of a function is changed.

Now we show that the continuity of $g$ implies that the left derivative of $F$ at $c$ is $g(c)$.

We note that $g(c)$ is a constant, so $(x-c)g(c) = \int_c^x g(c) dt$, hence $g(c) = \frac{\int_c^x g(c) dt}{x-c}$.

Then given $x \neq c$,

$$|\frac{F(x)-F(c)}{x-c} - g(c)|$$

$$= |\frac{\int_a^x g(t) \, dt - \int_a^c g(t) \, dt}{x-c} - \frac{\int_c^x g(c) dt}{x-c}| $$

$$= |\frac{\int_c^x g(t) \, dt}{x-c} - \frac{\int_c^x g(c) dt}{x-c}| $$

$$= \frac{1}{|x-c|} |\int_c^x (g(t) - g(c)) \, dt |$$

$$\leq \frac{1}{|x-c|} |\int_c^x |g(t) - g(c)| \, dt |$$

Since $g$ is continuous at $c$, there exists a $\delta>0$ such that for all $x \in [a,c]$, if $|x-c|<\delta$, then $|g(x)-g(c)|<\epsilon$.

So take any $\epsilon>0$. We then have that there exists $\delta>0$ such that for all $x \in [a,b]$, if $x \in (c-\delta, c)$,

$$|\frac{F(x)-F(c)}{x-c} - g(c)|$$

$$\leq \frac{1}{|x-c|} |\int_c^x |g(t) - g(c)| \, dt |$$

$$< \frac{1}{|x-c|} |\int_c^x \epsilon \, dt |$$

$$= \frac{1}{|x-c|} |x-c|\epsilon$$

$$= \epsilon$$

So the left derivative of $F$ at $c$ is $g(c)= \lim_\limits{x \to c^-} f(x)$.

The proof for the right derivative of $F$ at $c$ is similar, changing the obvious parts.

$\blacksquare$

But since $f$ has a jump discontinuity (which is a stronger condition that just being discontinuous at $c$, since some discontinuities are removable), $\lim_\limits{x \to c^-} f(x) \neq \lim_\limits{x \to c^+} f(x)$. So the left and right derivatives of $F$ at $c$ are not equal and hence $F$ is not differentiable at $c$.