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Spring 4-14-2021

Riemann Versus Lebesgue Integrals

Justin Moore

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Moore, Justin, "Riemann Versus Lebesgue Integrals" (2021). Spring Showcase for Research and Creative
Inquiry. 165.
https://digitalcommons.longwood.edu/rci_spring/165

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 Riemann vs. Lebesgue Integrals
Justin Moore
Department of Mathematics, Longwood University
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Ledford, MATH 462

Riemann Integrals Comparison Conclusions

• Riemann integration partitions the domain of the • As the number of intervals within the given partition increase, • There are two main types of integration:
function into a series of smaller intervals. the approximation approaches the true value of the integral. Riemann and Lebesgue. Both have their
• Then, the height of the function is taken at a This is true for both Riemann and Lebesgue integrals. advantages and drawbacks.
specific point within each interval. • Riemann integration is simpler to learn and
• Leftmost, rightmost, midpoint, minimum, and understand but does not quite have the power
maximum are the most common. to determine the integral of some functions.
• For each interval, multiply that function height by
• Lebesgue integration is more powerful than
the width of the interval to generate the area of
Riemann integration, but requires a deeper
a rectangle. The sum of each of these rectangles
understanding of mathematics and analysis to
is the approximated area for the integral. A comparison of the Riemann and Lebesgue approximations for
“y = sin(x)” from [0,π], using eight divisions.
understand.
• Although students are taught one way to
Lebesgue Integrals integrate, there are more tools at their disposal
• Every function which is integrable using the Riemann method
• Lebesgue integration uses a set of points in the is integrable with the Lebesgue method. However, there are later in their studies which could help in solving
range of the function for its procedure. some functions that are not Riemann integrable, but are more complex and analytically rigorous
• To take the Lebesgue integral, the “measure” of Lebesgue integrable. An example is the Dirichlet function: problems. It is important to recognize these
each range value within the function must be tools so they will not go unused.
determined. 1, 𝑥 rational
𝑔 𝑥 =ቊ Future Work
• The measure of a range value is the total 0, 𝑥 irrational
length of the function where that value is the A continuation of this project would consist of a
closest value in the set. The Dirichlet function is discontinuous at every single point on deeper exploration into measure theory, such as
• “Closest” in this context means it is either the the real number line, so it is impossible to determine the sum what it means for a function which has values that
of the heights of Riemann approximated rectangles as we
largest range value under or the smallest range do not have a measure, and what those functions
increase the number of partitions to infinity. However, we can
value above the function at any given domain look like.
look at the function using Lebesgue integration.
value, depending on which Lebesgue
• The range of the function is simply the values 0 and 1.
approximation is used. • Since the measure of the values at a height of 0 do not References
• By taking the product of the range value and its affect the area, we can ignore these.
measure, the total area of all rectangles with a • Abbot, Stephen. Understanding Analysis. Second
• The measure of the value 1 on the Dirichlet function is 0,
height of the range value is obtained. The sum of ed., Springer, 2010.
because the rational numbers are a series of singular
each of these areas gives the Lebesgue isolated points. • Adams, Malcolm, and Victor Guillemin. Measure
approximation for the area of the integral. • Thus, the Lebesgue integral of the Dirichlet function is 0. Theory and Probability. Birkhäuser, 1996.
• https://demonstrations.wolfram.com/RiemannV
ersusLebesgue/