Riemann integrability and lower and upper sums

analysis

Let's say a function $f:[a,b] \to \mathbb{R}$ is bounded and Riemann integrable, then would there always exist a partition $P$ of $[a,b]$ such that the lower sum of $P$ equals the upper sum of $P$?

My guess is "No" because the Riemann integrability implies that the infimum of upper sums equals the supremum of lower sums, but I am struggling to come up with a proof or counter-example.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Best Answer

The lower and upper sums are sums of areas of rectangles. It should be clear from a diagram that unless $f$ is constant (or at any rate piecewise constant) we will always have $$\{\hbox{lower sum}\}<\{\hbox{exact area}\}<\{\hbox{upper sum}\}\ .$$ For a specific example simply take $f(x)=x$ on $[0,1]$. You should not find it hard to show that for any partition $P$, $$\{\hbox{lower sum}\}<\frac12<\{\hbox{upper sum}\}\ .$$

Related Question