Is Lebesgue Outer Measure Uniquely Characterized by These Requirements?

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In summary, Lebesgue measure is uniquely characterized by five requirements: measure of empty set = 0, monotonicity, measure = length for intervals, translation invariance, and countable additivity. However, Lebesgue outer measure also satisfies these requirements except for countable additivity, which is replaced by countable subadditivity. It remains to be proven whether these requirements uniquely characterize Lebesgue outer measure. Hewitt and Stromberg mention this as an exercise in their book, but do not provide a proof, only requiring additional conditions to conclude that Lebesgue outer measure is equal to Lebesgue measure.
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Diophantus
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It is a fact that Lebesgue measure is characterised uniquely by the five requirements:

1 - measure of empty set = 0
2 - monotonicity
3 - measure = length for intervals
4 - translation invariance
5 - countable additivity

It is also true that Lebesgue outer measure satisfies:

1 - measure of empty set = 0
2 - monotonicity
3 - measure = length for intervals
4 - translation invariance
5 - countable subadditivity

but I'm dying to know whether these requirements actually characterise Lebesgue outer measure uniquely.
 
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Hewitt, Stromberg (Real and Abstract Analysis, Springer, GTM 25) don't prove it either, and they are very accurate in those questions, but it is contained as an exercise (12.56). They only require ##\mu([0,1])=1## and translation invariance to conclude ##\mu=\lambda##.
 

FAQ: Is Lebesgue Outer Measure Uniquely Characterized by These Requirements?

What is Lebesgue Outer Measure?

Lebesgue Outer Measure is a mathematical concept used to measure the size or volume of a set in a higher-dimensional space. It is a generalized version of the traditional notion of measure, which is typically defined for one-dimensional sets.

How is Lebesgue Outer Measure different from other measures?

Lebesgue Outer Measure differs from other measures, such as the traditional Jordan measure, in that it can assign a measure to more complex sets, including non-measurable sets. It also has the property of countable subadditivity, meaning that the measure of a countable union of sets is equal to the sum of their individual measures.

What is the significance of Lebesgue Outer Measure in mathematics?

Lebesgue Outer Measure is an important concept in the field of mathematical analysis, particularly in the study of integration and measure theory. It allows for the development of a more comprehensive theory of integration and provides a powerful tool for analyzing the properties of sets in higher-dimensional spaces.

How is Lebesgue Outer Measure calculated?

The Lebesgue Outer Measure of a set is typically defined as the infimum of the sums of the volumes of a countable collection of sets that cover the original set. In simpler terms, it is the smallest possible measure that can be assigned to a set while still covering all of its points.

What are some real-world applications of Lebesgue Outer Measure?

Lebesgue Outer Measure has applications in various fields, including physics, economics, and computer science. It is used in physics to measure the volume of objects in higher-dimensional spaces, in economics to analyze the distribution of wealth, and in computer science to measure the complexity of algorithms and data structures.

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