Proof of The Integral of an Indicator Function is the Measure of the Set
lemmalem:indicator-integral-measure-2026aFor a subset of the real line, the preimage is if contains both and , is if contains but not , is if contains but not , and is otherwise; the set lies in because a -algebra is closed under complements. All four sets therefore lie in , so is measurable in the sense required by Simple Function and Its Integral; it takes at most the two values and and is nonnegative, so it is a nonnegative simple function.
It remains to compute its integral from the standard representation of Simple Function and Its Integral, distinguishing the degenerate cases.
If then , the function takes no values, its standard representation is an empty sum, its integral is the empty sum , and .
If and , the only value is , with , so the integral is .
If and , the only value is , with , so the integral is , using the convention of Measure, Measure Space, and Probability Measure.
In the remaining case the distinct values are and , with and , so the integral is
again by the convention .
In every case the integral of as a simple function is , and Lebesgue Integral of a Nonnegative Measurable Function records that for a nonnegative simple function that integral agrees with the integral defined there.
Loading…
Prerequisites
d8d7c4fc-f26e-475f-9421-836acb75d179