Sets of Measure Zero

Sets of Measure Zero

Definition: A subset A R has measure 0 if
X
inf `(In ) = 0
AIn

Sets of Measure Zero

Definition: A subset A R has measure 0 if
X
inf `(In ) = 0
AIn

where {In } is a finite or countable collection of open intervals and

`(a, b) = b a.

Sets of Measure Zero

Definition: A subset A R has measure 0 if
X
inf `(In ) = 0
AIn

where {In } is a finite or countable collection of open intervals and

`(a, b) = b a.

In other words, A has measure 0 if for every  >P0 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 finite, A = {x1 , . . . , xk }

Sets of Measure Zero

Examples of sets of measure 0

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

Sets of Measure Zero

Examples of sets of measure 0

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

Sets of Measure Zero

Examples of sets of measure 0

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

and
k
X
`(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 , xn + ), n = 1, 2, . . . .
2n+1 2n+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 , xn + ), n = 1, 2, . . . .
2n+1 2n+1

Then

 [
`(In ) = n , A In
2
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 , xn + ), n = 1, 2, . . . .
2n+1 2n+1

Then

 [
`(In ) = n , A In
2
n=1

and

X X 
`(In ) = = .
2n
n=1 n=1

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= An .
n=1

Sets of Measure Zero

If you expand numbers in a ternary expansion, so if x [0, 1] you
write

X aj
x= , where aj = 0, 1 or 2,
3j
j=1

Sets of Measure Zero

If you expand numbers in a ternary expansion, so if x [0, 1] you
write

X aj
x= , where aj = 0, 1 or 2,
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

X aj
x= , where aj = 0, 1 or 2,
3j
j=1

then

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

The map

X aj X aj /2
j
>
3 2j
j=1 j=1

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
[ 1
An = Bn,k , Bn,k = [an,k , bn,k ], `(Bn,k ) = .
3n
k=1

Sets of Measure Zero

To see that it has measure 0, notice that
2n
[ 1
An = Bn,k , Bn,k = [an,k , bn,k ], `(Bn,k ) = .
3n
k=1

Let  
1 1
In,k = an,k , bn,k + n
10n 10
so
1 2
Bn,k In,k and `(In,k ) = n
+ n.
3 10

Sets of Measure Zero

To see that it has measure 0, notice that
2n
[ 1
An = Bn,k , Bn,k = [an,k , bn,k ], `(Bn,k ) = .
3n
k=1

Let  
1 1
In,k = an,k , bn,k + n
10n 10
so
1 2
Bn,k In,k and `(In,k ) = n
+ n.
3 10

Now
2n 2 n
[ X 2n 2n+1
A An In,k , `(In,k ) = + 0 as n
3n 10n
k=1 k=1

so A has measure 0.
Sets of Measure Zero