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Let $f \in C^0 ([a, b], \mathbb{R})$ and $f \geq 0$. Show that

$$ \int^{b}_{a} f(x) \: dx = 0 \iff f = 0 $$

The $ \Leftarrow $ part I've already proved. Let us consider the $ \Rightarrow $ part:

\begin{equation*} \begin{split} \int^{b}_{a} f(x) \: dx = F(b) - F(a) & = 0 \\ F(b) & = F(a) \end{split} \end{equation*}

Is this the right approach? How I can go on?

3 Answers3

7

I don't think your approach will be fruitful.

Hint: Suppose $f\not\equiv0$ and show that in that case $\int_a^bf\neq0$.

Details: More explicitly, if $f\not\equiv0$ then there exists $\xi\in[a,b]$ such that $f(\xi)=:\epsilon>0$. The continuity of $f$ implies that there exists a non-degenerate interval $I$ of $[a,b]$ containing $\xi$ on which, say, $f\geq\frac{\epsilon}{2}$. Then since $f$ is nonnegative, $\int_a^b f\geq\int_I f\geq\ell(I)\frac{\epsilon}{2}>0$.

Guest
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It is trivial that if $f=0$ then $\int_{a}^b f(x)dx=0$.

Now suppose that $\int_a^b f(x)dx=0$. We need to prove that $f=0$, that means $f(x)=0$ for all $x\in [a,b]$. We use the contradiction to solve. In fact, assume that $\exists x_0\in [a,b]$ such that $f(x_0)>0$. Since $f$ is continuous at $x_0$, there exist a $\delta>0$ small enough such that $f(x)>\frac{f(x_0)}{2}$ for all $x\in (x_0-\delta, x_0+\delta)$, (since $$\varepsilon = \frac{{f\left( {{x_0}} \right)}}{2} > 0,\,\,\exists \delta > 0:\left| {x - {x_0}} \right| < \delta \Rightarrow \left| {f\left( x \right) - f\left( {{x_0}} \right)} \right| < \frac{{f\left( {{x_0}} \right)}}{2}.)$$ Hence $$\int_a^b {f\left( x \right)dx} \geqslant \int_{{x_0} - \delta }^{{x_0} + \delta } {f\left( x \right)dx} \geqslant \int_{{x_0} - \delta }^{{x_0} + \delta } {\frac{{f\left( {{x_0}} \right)}}{2}dx} = \frac{{f\left( {{x_0}} \right)}}{2}\int_{{x_0} - \delta }^{{x_0} + \delta } {dx} = \delta f\left( {{x_0}} \right) > 0.$$ This is a contradiction. So $f(x)=0$ for all $x\in [a,b]$.

Baily
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Another answer (perhaps more linked to your tentative). Put $\displaystyle F(x)=\int_a^x f(t)dt$. As $f$ is continuous, the derivative of $F$ exists and is equal to $f$. As $f$ is positive, $F$ is increasing. Hence for $a\leq x\leq b$, we get $0=F(a)\leq F(x)\leq F(b)=0$. Hence $F=0$, and $f=F^{\prime}$ is $0$

Kelenner
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