# Math4121 Lecture 34 > Important: > > $\mathfrak{M}=\{S\subset \mathbb{R}: S \text{ satisfies the caratheodory condition}\}$, that is, for any $X$ of finite outer measure, > > $$m_e(X)=m_e(X\cap S)+m_e(X\cap S^c)$$ > > In particular, the measure of sets can be infinite, not necessarily bounded. (We want to make the real line measurable.) ## Lebesgue Integral ### Simple Function A function $\phi$ is called a simple function if $$ \phi(x)=\sum_{i=1}^{n} a_i \chi_{S_i}(x) $$ where $a_i\in \mathbb{R}$ and $\chi_{S_i}=\begin{cases}1, & x\in S_i \\ 0, & x\notin S_i\end{cases}$ where $\{S_i\}_{i=1}^{n}$ are pairwise disjoint each having finite measure. **constant function** is not simple ($\mathbb{R}$ is not finite measurable sets.) #### Theorem 6.6 A function $f$ is measurable on $[a,b]$ if and only if there exists a sequence of simple functions $\{\phi_n\}$ such that $\lim_{n\to\infty} \phi_n(x)=f(x)$ almost everywhere on $[a,b]$. Proof: Partition $[-n,n]$ into $n2^{n+1}$ pieces. (These are just horizontal strips from $-n$ to $n$ with width $\frac{1}{2^n}$.) $$ E_{n,k}=\{x\in[-n,n]:\frac{k}{2^n}\leq f(x)<\frac{k+1}{2^n}\} $$ for $-n2^n