Showing that a bounded continuous function is zero if an integral with it is zero

474 Views Asked by At

The below problem is from an exam in real analysis. Thus, only such methods may be used.

Show that a bounded continuous function $f:[1,\infty)\mapsto x\in\mathbb{R}$ is identically equal to zero if and only if $$\int_1^\infty f(x)x^{-n}dx=0$$ for $n=8,9,10,\dots$.

This is my attempt. Is it correct?

The criterion if and only if means that there is an equivalence. Thus, both the implication $\Rightarrow$ and $\Leftarrow$ need to be shown. Start with $\Rightarrow$. Thus, assume that $f(x)$ is a bounded and continuous function on $[1,\infty)$ that is identically equal to zero. Thus, $f(x):=0$. Now, we shall prove that $$\int_1^\infty f(x)x^{-n}dx=0.$$ Okay. We have $$\int_1^\infty f(x)x^{-n}dx=\int_1^\infty 0\cdot x^{-n}dx=\int_1^\infty0dx=[c]_1^\infty=c-c=0$$ for some constant $c\in\mathbb{R}$. Here, it was used that $0\in\mathbb{R}$ is the absorbing element in $\mathbb{R}$. Not let's proceed to $\Leftarrow$. Hence, assume that $$\int_1^\infty f(x)x^{-n}dx=0.$$ Now, we shall prove that $f(x)=0$ on $[1,\infty)$ and that it's bounded and continuous. Assume towards a contradiction that $f(x)\neq0$. Namely, $f(x)>0$, for definitiveness. Thus, there exists an $\epsilon>0$ and $\delta>0$ such that $f(x_0)=L$ and $L-\epsilon<f(x)<L+\epsilon$ in $x\in[x_0+\delta,x_0-\delta]$ for some $x_0\in[1,\infty)$. Consequently \begin{align*} \int_1^\infty f(x)x^{-n}dx=\int_1^{x_0-\delta}f(x)x^{-n}dx+\int_{x_0-\delta}^{x_0+\delta}f(x)x^{-n}dx+\int_{x_0+\delta}^\infty f(x)x^{-n}dx>0 \end{align*} which contradicts that $$\int_1^\infty f(x)x^{-n}dx=0.$$ Thus, $f(x)=0$ on $[1,\infty)$. The zero function is trivially bounded and continuous.

1

There are 1 best solutions below

10
On BEST ANSWER

Define $g(x)=x^{-8}f(x)$, so $g$ is bounded, continuous and integrable on $[1,\infty)$. Note that $$\int_1^\infty x^{-n}g(x)\,dx=0\quad(n\ge0).$$Now a suitable version of Stone-Weierstrass shows that $$\int_1^\infty g(x)\phi(x)\,dx=0$$for every $\phi\in C_0([1,\infty))$ (and hence for every $\phi\in C_c([1,\infty))$).