Sets of Measure Zero

Sets of Measure Zero

Denition: A subset A R has measure 0 if

AIn

inf

(In ) = 0

Sets of Measure Zero

Denition: A subset A R has measure 0 if

AIn

inf

(In ) = 0

where {In } is a nite or countable collection of open intervals and (a, b ) = b a.

Sets of Measure Zero

Denition: A subset A R has measure 0 if

AIn

inf

(In ) = 0

where {In } is a nite or countable collection of open intervals and (a, b ) = b a. In other words, A has measure 0 if for every > 0 there are open intervals I1 , I2 , . . . , In , . . . such that A In and (In ) .

Sets of Measure Zero

Almost everywhere means except on a set of measure 0.

Sets of Measure Zero

Examples of sets of measure 0

A nite, A = {x1 , . . . , xk }

Sets of Measure Zero

Examples of sets of measure 0

A nite, A = {x1 , . . . , xk } Proof : Given > 0, let Ij = (xj 2k , xj + 2k ), j = 1, . . . , k .

Sets of Measure Zero

Examples of sets of measure 0

A nite, A = {x1 , . . . , xk } Proof : Given > 0, let Ij = (xj Then (Ij ) = k , A

j =1

2k

, xj +

2k

), j = 1, . . . , k .
k

Ij ,

Sets of Measure Zero

Examples of sets of measure 0

A nite, A = {x1 , . . . , xk } Proof : Given > 0, let Ij = (xj Then (Ij ) = and k
k

2k

, xj +

2k

), j = 1, . . . , k .
k

A
j =1

Ij ,

(Ij ) = .
j =1

Sets of Measure Zero

A countable, e.g., A = Q, the rational numbers

Sets of Measure Zero

A countable, e.g., A = Q, the rational numbers Proof : Suppose A = {xn } n=1 .

Sets of Measure Zero

A countable, e.g., A = Q, the rational numbers Proof : Suppose A = {xn } n=1 . Given > 0, let In = (xn 2n+1 , xn + 2n+1 ), n = 1, 2, . . . .

Sets of Measure Zero

A countable, e.g., A = Q, the rational numbers Proof : Suppose A = {xn } n=1 . Given > 0, let In = (xn 2n+1 , xn + 2n+1 ), n = 1, 2, . . . .

Then (In ) = 2n , A

In
n=1

Sets of Measure Zero

A countable, e.g., A = Q, the rational numbers Proof : Suppose A = {xn } n=1 . Given > 0, let In = (xn 2n+1 , xn + 2n+1 ), n = 1, 2, . . . .

Then (In ) = and 2n , A

In
n=1

(In ) =
n=1 n=1

2n

= .

Sets of Measure Zero

The Cantor set A is constructed inductively.

Sets of Measure Zero

The Cantor set A is constructed inductively. Let 1 2 A1 = [0, 1] \ ( , ). 3 3

Sets of Measure Zero

The Cantor set A is constructed inductively. Let 1 2 A1 = [0, 1] \ ( , ). 3 3 Obtain An+1 from An by removing the open middle third of each remaining interval.

Sets of Measure Zero

The Cantor set A is constructed inductively. Let 1 2 A1 = [0, 1] \ ( , ). 3 3 Obtain An+1 from An by removing the open middle third of each remaining interval. Then

A=
n=1

An .

Sets of Measure Zero

If you expand numbers in a ternary expansion, so if x [0, 1] you write aj , where aj = 0, 1 or 2, x= 3j

j =1

Sets of Measure Zero

If you expand numbers in a ternary expansion, so if x [0, 1] you write aj , where aj = 0, 1 or 2, x= 3j

j =1

then A = {x [0, 1] : x has no 1 in its ternary expansion}.

Sets of Measure Zero

If you expand numbers in a ternary expansion, so if x [0, 1] you write aj , where aj = 0, 1 or 2, x= 3j

j =1

then A = {x [0, 1] : x has no 1 in its ternary expansion}.

The map

j =1

aj > 3j

j =1

aj /2 2j

maps the Cantor set onto the unit interval.

Sets of Measure Zero

So the Cantor set is uncountable.

Sets of Measure Zero

To see that it has measure 0, notice that

2n

An =
k =1

Bn,k , Bn,k = [an,k , bn,k ], (Bn,k ) =

1 . 3n

Sets of Measure Zero

To see that it has measure 0, notice that

2n

An =
k =1

Bn,k , Bn,k = [an,k , bn,k ], (Bn,k ) =

1 . 3n

Let In,k = so Bn,k In,k and an,k

1 1 , bn,k + n 10n 10 (In,k ) = 1 2 + n. n 3 10

Sets of Measure Zero

To see that it has measure 0, notice that

2n

An =
k =1

Bn,k , Bn,k = [an,k , bn,k ], (Bn,k ) =

1 . 3n

Let In,k = so Bn,k In,k Now

2n 2n

an,k

1 1 , bn,k + n 10n 10 (In,k ) = 1 2 + n. n 3 10

and

A An
k =1

In,k ,
k =1

(In,k ) =

2n 2n+1 + 0 as n 3n 10n

so A has measure 0.
Sets of Measure Zero