Approximately continuous function

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Short description: Mathematical concept in measure theory

In mathematics, particularly in mathematical analysis and measure theory, an approximately continuous function is a concept that generalizes the notion of continuous functions by replacing the ordinary limit with an approximate limit.[1] This generalization provides insights into measurable functions with applications in real analysis and geometric measure theory.[2]

Definition

Let En be a Lebesgue measurable set, f:Ek be a measurable function, and x0E be a point where the Lebesgue density of E is 1. The function f is said to be approximately continuous at x0 if and only if the approximate limit of f at x0 exists and equals f(x0).[3]

Properties

A fundamental result in the theory of approximately continuous functions is derived from Lusin's theorem, which states that every measurable function is approximately continuous at almost every point of its domain.[4] The concept of approximate continuity can be extended beyond measurable functions to arbitrary functions between metric spaces. The Stepanov-Denjoy theorem provides a remarkable characterization:

Stepanov-Denjoy theorem: A function is measurable if and only if it is approximately continuous almost everywhere. [5]

Approximately continuous functions are intimately connected to Lebesgue points. For a function fL1(E), a point x0 is a Lebesgue point if it is a point of Lebesgue density 1 for E and satisfies

limr01λ(Br(x0))EBr(x0)|f(x)f(x0)|dx=0

where λ denotes the Lebesgue measure and Br(x0) represents the ball of radius r centered at x0. Every Lebesgue point of a function is necessarily a point of approximate continuity.[6] The converse relationship holds under additional constraints: when f is essentially bounded, its points of approximate continuity coincide with its Lebesgue points.[7]

See also

References

  1. "Approximate continuity". https://encyclopediaofmath.org/wiki/Approximate_continuity. 
  2. Evans, L.C.; Gariepy, R.F. (1992). Measure theory and fine properties of functions. Studies in Advanced Mathematics. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. 
  3. Federer, H. (1969). Geometric measure theory. Die Grundlehren der mathematischen Wissenschaften. 153. New York: Springer-Verlag. 
  4. Saks, S. (1952). Theory of the integral. Hafner. 
  5. Lukeš, Jaroslav (1978). "A topological proof of Denjoy-Stepanoff theorem". Časopis pro pěstování matematiky 103 (1): 95–96. doi:10.21136/CPM.1978.117963. ISSN 0528-2195. https://dml.cz/handle/10338.dmlcz/117963. Retrieved 2025-01-20. 
  6. Thomson, B.S. (1985). Real functions. Springer. 
  7. Munroe, M.E. (1953). Introduction to measure and integration. Addison-Wesley.