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[parent] example of a non Riemann integrable function (Example)

Let $[a,b]$ be any closed interval and consider the Dirichlet's function $f\colon [a,b]\to\mathbb R$ $$ f(x) = \begin{cases} 1 &\text{if $x$ is rational}\\ 0 &\text{otherwise}. \end{cases} $$

Then $f$ is not Riemann integrable. In fact given any interval $[x_1,x_2]\subset [a,b]$ with $x_1<x_2$ one has $$ \sup_{[x_1,x_2]} f(x) = 1,\qquad \inf_{[x_1,x_2]} f(x) = 0 $$ because every interval contains both rational and irrational points. So all upper Riemann sums are equal to $1$ and all lower Riemann sums are equal to $0$




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Cross-references: lower Riemann sums, upper Riemann sums, points, rational and irrational, contains, interval, Riemann integrable, Dirichlet's function, closed interval

This is version 1 of example of a non Riemann integrable function, born on 2005-02-18.
Object id is 6776, canonical name is ExampleOfANonRiemannIntegrableFunction.
Accessed 3957 times total.

Classification:
AMS MSC28-XX (Measure and integration)
 26-XX (Real functions)

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