For a function $u\in W^{1,p}$, we always use a sequence of $C^1$ function to approach it and derive the consequences. However, can we just claim for a.e. x, y: $$u(x)-u(y)= \int_0^1 Du(y+t(x-y))\cdot (x-y) dt$$ I tried to prove that it’s right in the following way: Consider a $C^1$ sequence $u_n$ approaching u in $W^{1,p}$, the key here is to prove: $$\int_0^1 D(u-u_n)(y+t(x-y))\cdot (x-y) dt$$ Tends to 0 as n tend to infinity, as we have, for a.e. x: $$u_n(x) \to u(x)$$ Therefore, we have, for a.e. x, y: $$ u(x)-u(y)=\lim_{n\to\infty} u_n(x)-u_n(y)=\lim_{n\to\infty} \int_0^1 Du_n(y+t(x-y))\cdot (x-y) dt= \int_0^1 Du(y+t(x-y))\cdot (x-y) dt$$