# When is this function Lebesgue integrable (based on variables)?

I didn't know how to start with this basic question :

Let $a,b > 0$ and $f$ a function :

$$f(x)={xe^{-ax}\over 1-e^{-bx}}.$$

Find $a$ and $b$ so that $f$ is Lebesgue integrable in $[0,+∞[$ .

-
$$f(x) = \frac{x}{\mathrm e^{ax} - \mathrm e^{(a-b)x}}$$. Does that help? –  filmor Jan 18 '13 at 12:05
and what can i say after that ? the only formula that i know about lebesgue integrable is that a function is lebesgue integrable if the integral of the absolute value of the function is finite .. –  Lofaif Jan 18 '13 at 12:26
Integrable on which interval? –  Siméon Jan 18 '13 at 12:30
sorry i forgot , in $$[ 0, +\infty[$$ –  Lofaif Jan 18 '13 at 12:38

I would say that it is integrable for all values of $a,b>0$.

For every $a,b,x>0$ $f(x)$ is positive, so it remains to show that its integral is finite. Let us denote ${\rm d}x={\rm d}\lambda(x)$ where $\lambda$ is the Lebesgue measure.

We may decompose the integral as $$\int_{[0,+\infty)} \hspace{-20pt}f(x)\,{\rm d}x = \int_{[0,1]}\hspace{-12pt}f(x)\,{\rm d}x + \int_{(1,+\infty)}\hspace{-20pt}f(x)\,{\rm d}x$$ Let us first focus on the first one: as $\lim_{x\to 0^+}f(x)=\frac{1}{b}$, it follows that $f$ (which is defined for $x\neq 0$) can be extended continuously in $[0,\infty)$. In particular, it is continuous on the compact interval $[0,1]$ and therefore $$\int_{[0,1]}\hspace{-12pt}f(x)\,{\rm d}x < \infty$$ Now, let us notice that for all $a,b>0$ $$f(x) = \frac{xe^{-ax}}{1-e^{-bx}} \leq \frac{xe^{-ax}}{1-e^{-b}} \quad\forall x>1$$ Therefore, $$\int_{(1,+\infty)}\hspace{-20pt}f(x)\,{\rm d}x \leq \frac{1}{1-e^{-b}}\int_{(1,+\infty)}\hspace{-20pt}xe^{-ax}\,{\rm d}x = \frac{1}{1-e^{-b}}\frac{a+1}{a^2}e^{-a} <\infty$$ which completes the proof.

The last computation uses the Riemann integration; remember that a positive Riemann-integrable function is also Lebesgue-integrable.

-
thank you very for this , i have another small question .. if i put $a=0$ will it change the condition of $b>0$ so that f is integrable ? , i think that with a=0 the function is no longer integrable if we follow the same steps .. –  Lofaif Jan 18 '13 at 13:31
If $a=0$ then $f$ won't be integrable for ANY $b$: for $b\geq 0$ it is trivial, while for $b<0$ you have $$|f(x)| \geq \frac{1}{|1-e^{-bx}|} \qquad \forall x>1$$ so $$\int_{(1,+\infty)}\hspace{-20pt}|f(x)|\,{\rm d}x \geq \int_{(1,+\infty)}\frac{1}{|1-e^{-bx}|}\,{\rm d}x = \infty$$ –  AndreasT Jan 18 '13 at 15:22

The function $f$ being continuous on $]0,\infty[$, it is sufficient to study its behaviour at $0$ and $+\infty$.

We have $$f(x) \sim xe^{-ax}\qquad (x\to \infty)$$ wich is integrable at the neighbourhood of $+\infty$.

And $$f(x) \rightarrow \frac{1}{b}\qquad(x\to 0).$$ wich is integrable at the neighboorhood of $0$ (actually, $f$ can be continuously continuated in $0$).

From this, we conclude that $f$ is integrable on $]0,\infty[$.

-