14
$\begingroup$

Which is the cleanest way to show that the difference, $d:R^n\times R^n\rightarrow R^n$, $d(x,y)= x-y$, is Lebesgue-Lebesgue measurable? (i.e. foreach A lebesgue measurable in $R^n$, $d^{-1}(A)$ is Lebesgue measurable in $R^n\times R^n$). Thanks in advance.

$\endgroup$
8
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Erm, isn't d continuous, and hence automatically measurable? $\endgroup$ Mar 26, 2010 at 10:40
  • 16
    $\begingroup$ Continuity does not imply measurability in Nicolo's strong sense. There are continuous bijections mapping sets of positive measure to sets of zero measure (e.g. Cantor sets). Each subset of a zero-measure Cantor set has Lebesgue measure zero but its inverse image need not be measurable. Decomposing the subtraction map as a composite of $(x,y)\mapsto(x-y,x)$ and $(x,y)\mapsto x$ does it cleanly enough for me. The usual definition of a Lebesgue measurable function requires the inverse image of a Borel set to be Lebesgue integrable: this is weaker than Nicolo's condition. $\endgroup$ Mar 26, 2010 at 10:50
  • 5
    $\begingroup$ Another example: the embedding $\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}^2$ taking $x$ to $(x,0)$ isn't Lebesgue-Lebesgue measurable in Nicolo's sense. $\endgroup$ Mar 26, 2010 at 11:28
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ @Robin: Please make your comments into an answer. $\endgroup$ Mar 26, 2010 at 12:00
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ By coincidence (?) we just came to this exact exercise in: G. Folland, Real Analysis. This is Exercise 5 on page 245. I won't post more until after the class discusses it... $\endgroup$ Mar 31, 2010 at 17:59

2 Answers 2

19
$\begingroup$

Nicolo is asking about functions where the inverse image of a Lebesgue measurable set is Lebesgue measurable. This is stronger than the usual definition of measurability where it is required only the inverse image of each Borel set must be Lebesgue measurable. Continuous functions need not be measurable by this stronger criterion. If $B$ has zero Lebesgue measure and $A=f^{-1}(B)$ has nonzero measure then each subset of $B$ is Lebesgue measurable but its inverse image may be non-measurable. A simple example is given by $f:x\mapsto (x,0)$ from $\mathbb{R}$ to $\mathbb{R}^2$. Taking $A$ to be a non-measurable subset of $\mathbb{R}$ and $B=f(A)$ we see this $f$ is not Lebesgue-Lebesgue measurable. More interesting examples occur on the real line when there are continuous homeomorphisms from $\mathbb{R}$ to itself taking Cantor sets of positive measure to Cantor sets of zero measure.

To return to Nicolo's example. Each surjective linear map from $\mathbb{R}^m\to\mathbb{R}^n$ is Lebesgue-Lebesgue measurable as it can be decomposed as a composition of linear bijections and the projection map $\mathbb{R}^m\to\mathbb{R}^n$ mapping onto the first $n$ coordinates (both these types of maps can be seen to be Lebesgue-Lebesgue measurable). By definition, the class Lebesgue-Lebesgue measurable maps is closed under composition (unlike the class of Lebesgue-measurable maps!).

$\endgroup$
5
  • $\begingroup$ Why was this answer accepted? Of course this answer was very helpful; but it doesn't actually answer the question. $\endgroup$
    – Regenbogen
    Mar 26, 2010 at 22:39
  • $\begingroup$ I've thought it was immediate to show that linear bijection are Leb-Leb measurable, but thinking a little more on it there is a thing to show: if $T$ is a linear bijection and $N$ is a Borelian of null measure, is $T(N)$ of null measure? $\endgroup$
    – Nicolò
    Mar 26, 2010 at 22:59
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ @Nicolò: Cover $N$ with balls of very small total measure and think about what $T$ does to each ball... $\endgroup$ Mar 27, 2010 at 1:11
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Yes, but there are several things to show.. $\endgroup$
    – Nicolò
    Mar 27, 2010 at 17:43
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ T is Lipschitz, hence zero-sets go to zero-sets $\endgroup$ Jan 21, 2013 at 15:20
6
$\begingroup$

Unitary matrices preserve measure. A diagonal matrix of full rank is a Lesbesgue-Lesbesgue measurable transformation. Linear maps over the reals have a singular value decomposition.

$\endgroup$

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.