[Math] “Mean Value Theorem” for a integrable and bounded function

integrationreal-analysisriemann-integration

There is a formula that reminds the Mean Value Theorem in integral form for a function that is only integrable and bounded, not continuous. That is: If $f$ is integrable in $[a,b]$ and $m\leq f(x) \leq M$ for all $x$ in $[a,b]$, then: $${\int_{a}^{b}f(x)dx = \mu (b-a)}$$ where $m\leq \mu \leq M$.

This is what I've done so far:

If $F:[a,b] \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ is a primitive of $f$ and $P$ is a partition of $[a,b]$, then: $${\int_{a}^{b}f(x)dx = F(b) – F(a) = \sum_{i=1}^n[F(t_i) – F(t_{i-1})].}$$ Using the fact that $F$ has derivative, it follows that the Mean Value Theorem applies: there exist, for each subinterval $[t_{i-1},t_i]$, a $c_i \in (t_{i-1},t_i)$ such that: $${F(t_i) – F(t_{i-1}) = F'(c_i)(t_i – t_{i-1})}$$ for all $i$. Then my guess is that I would use the inequality: $${m(b-a) \leq \int_{a}^{b}f(x)dx \leq M(b-a)}$$ where $m$ and $M$ are the "inf" and "sup" of $f$, respectively, but from here I am stuck.

Best Answer

We want to prove the following:

If $f$ is integrable in $[a,b]$ and $m\leq f(x) \leq M$ for all $x$ in $[a,b]$, then: $${\int_{a}^{b}f(x)dx = \mu (b-a)}$$ where $m\leq \mu \leq M$.

Although this is somewhat reminiscent of a mean value theorem for integrals, it's much simpler. Call $$ \int_a^b f(x) dx = I,$$ which exists since $f$ is integrable. It is very easy to show that $m(b-a) \leq I \leq M(b-a)$, and I take this for granted.

Then you can consider a function $g(x) = I - x(b-a)$ on the interval $[m,M]$. Now $g$ is a continuous function. We know $g(m) \geq 0$ and $g(M) \leq 0$, so by the intermediate value theorem there is some $\mu \in [m,M]$ such that $I - \mu(b-a) = 0$, or rather $I = \mu(b-a)$. $\diamondsuit$

The strength of the usual integral mean value theorem is that there is some $c$ so that the integral is given by $f(c)(b-a)$, in particular that it's given by a particular value of $f$.

We cannot hope to prove quite the same thing here. For instance, consider the function given by $0$ from $0$ to $1$ and $2$ from $1$ to $2$. Then the average value is $1$, which is not a value taken by the function.

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