If $\mathcal{A}$ contains $f^{-1}(\pm\infty)$ and $f^{-1}(O)$, then there is a sequence of $\mu$-simple functions converging to $f$ $\mu$-a.e

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The full theorem is "if and only if", but it would be too long for a thread if I posted two directions together. The first direction is here. This question concerns the reverse direction.

I'm trying to prove this theorem about the measurability of $\overline{\mathbb{R}}$-valued functions. Could you please verify if my proof looks fine or contains logical gaps/errors? Thank you so much for your help!


Let $(X, \mathcal{A}, \mu)$ be a complete, $\sigma$-finite measure space and $(E,\|\cdot\|)$ a Banach space.

  • We say $f \in E^{X}$ is $\boldsymbol{\mu}\textbf{-simple}$ if $f(X)$ is finite, $f^{-1}(e) \in \mathcal{A}$ for every $e \in E,$ and $\mu\left(f^{-1}(E \backslash\{0\})\right)<\infty$.

  • Suppose $f_n, f \in E^{X}$ for $n \in \mathbb{N} .$ Then $(f_n)_{n \in \mathbb N}$ converges to $f$ $\boldsymbol{\mu}\textbf{-almost everywhere}$ if and only if there is a $\mu$-null set $N$ such that $f_{n}(x) \rightarrow f(x)$ for all $x \in N^{c}$.

  • In the theory of integration, it is useful to consider not only real-valued functions but also maps into the extended number line $\overline{\mathbb{R}}$. Such maps are called $\overline{\mathbb{R}}$-valued functions.

Theorem If $\mathcal{A}$ contains $f^{-1}(-\infty)$, $f^{-1}(+\infty)$, and $f^{-1}(O)$ for every open subset $O$ of $\mathbb{R}$, then there is a sequence of $f_n \in \mathbb{R}^X$ such that $(f_n)$ converges to $f \in \overline{\mathbb{R}}^X$ $\mu$-almost everywhere.


$\textbf{My attempt}$

(i) We consider first the case $\mu(X)<\infty$. Let $(a_k)_{k \in \mathbb N}$ be an enumeration of $\mathbb Q$ and $A_{k,n} = f^{-1} [ \mathbb B (a_k, 1/(n+1))]$. Let $A_{+} = f^{-1}(+\infty)$ and $A_{-} = f^{-1}(-\infty)$. Then $\{A_{k,n},A_{+},A_{-}\} \subseteq \mathcal A$ for all $(k,n) \in \mathbb N^2$. The continuity of $\mu$ from above and the assumption $\mu(X)<\infty$ implies there are $m_n$ and $B_n \in \mathcal A$ such that $$B^c_n =A_+ \cup A_- \cup \bigcup_{k=0}^{m_n} A_{k,n} \quad \text{and} \quad \mu(B_n) < \frac{1}{2^{n+1}}$$

Now define $\varphi_{n} \in {\mathbb R}^{X}$ by $$\varphi_{n}(x) = \begin{cases} {a_{0}} & {\text {if} \quad x \in A_{0,n}} \\ {a_{k}} & {\text {if} \quad x \in A_{k, n} \setminus \bigcup_{p=0}^{k-1} A_{p, n} \quad \text {for} \quad 1 \le p \leq m_{n}} \\ n & {\text {if}} \quad x \in A_{+} \\ -n & {\text {if}} \quad x \in A_{-} \\ {0} & {\text {otherwise}} \end{cases}$$

Clearly, $\varphi_{n}$ is $\mu$-simple and $|\varphi_{n}(x) - f(x)| < 1/(n+1)$ for all $x \in B_n^c$. Define a decreasing sequence $(C_n)_{n \in \mathbb N}$ by $C_n = \bigcup_{p=0}^{\infty} B_{n+p}$. Then $C_n^c \subseteq B_n^c$ and $\mu(C_n) \le \sum_{p=0}^\infty \mu(B_{n+p}) < 1/2^n$. It therefore follows from the continuity of $\mu$ from above that $C = \bigcap_{n=0}^\infty C_{n}$ is $\mu$-null. We now set $$\psi_{n}(x) = \begin{cases} {\varphi_{n}(x)} & {\text {if} \quad x \in C_{n}^{c}} \\ {0} & {\text {otherwise}}\end{cases}$$

Clearly, $\psi_{n}$ is $\mu$-simple. For $x \in C^c$, there exists $n \in \mathbb N$ such that $x \in C_n^c$. Then $x \in C_{n+p}^c$ for all $p \in \mathbb N$. So $|\psi_{n+p}(x) - f(x)| =|\varphi_{n+p}(x) - f(x)| < 1/(n+p+1)$ for all $p \in \mathbb N$. Hence $\psi_{n} (x) \to f(x)$ for all $x \in C^c$.

(ii) We next consider the case $\mu(X)=\infty$. Because $\mu$ is $\sigma$-finite, there is a sequence $(A_k)_{k \in \mathbb N}$ of pairwise disjoint subsets in $\mathcal{A}$ such that $\bigcup_{k=0}^\infty A_{k}=X$ and $\mu (A_{k}) < \infty$. As in (i), for each $A_k$, there is a sequence $(\psi^k_{n})_{n \in \mathbb N}$ of $\mu$-simple functions and a $\mu$-null set $C_k$ such that $\psi^k_{n} (x) \to f(x)$ for all $x \in A_k \setminus C_k$. Moreover, $C=\bigcup_{k=0}^\infty C_{k}$ is $\mu$-null. We define a sequence $(\psi_{n})_{n \in \mathbb N}$ by $$\psi_{n}(x) = \begin{cases} {\psi^k_{n}(x)} & {\text {if} \quad x \in \bigcup_{k=0}^n A_{k}} \\ {0} & {\text {otherwise}}\end{cases}$$

Clearly, $(\psi_{n})_{n \in \mathbb N}$ is a sequence of $\mu$-simple functions such that $\psi_{n} (x) \to f(x)$ for all $x \in C^c$.