# Necessary condition for an improper integral to converge

I am working on this problem from a past examination:

Let $f:[0,\infty)\rightarrow\mathbb R$ be a continuous, non-negative and non-increasing function such that the improper integral $\int_0^\infty (f(x)/\sqrt{x})\ dx$ converges. Show that $\lim_{x\rightarrow\infty}f(x)\sqrt x=0$. Also, prove that $0<\forall \epsilon<1$, $$\lim_{x\rightarrow\infty}\int_{\epsilon x}^x\frac{f(y)}{\sqrt{x-y}}dy = 0.$$

I tried to bound the order of growth of $f$ to show the first assertion, but in vain.

I would be grateful if you could provide a clue (not necessarily a complete proof).

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Here are some ideas that might help:

If $f(b)\sqrt{b}\ge\varepsilon$, then $f(x)\ge\varepsilon/\sqrt{b}$ for all $x\le b$.

The assumption on the integral implies that $$\lim_{b\to\infty}\int_{b/2}^b\frac{f(x)}{\sqrt{x}}\,dx=0.$$

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Thank you. Could you please elaborate a little on the second assertion? –  Pteromys Aug 7 '13 at 14:23
You mean the second assertion of my answer? The point is that when $g$ is a nonnegative function and $\int_0^\infty g(x)\,dx<\infty$ then $\lim_{a\to\infty}\int_a^\infty g(x)\,dx=0$ (because $\int_a^\infty=\int_0^\infty-\int_0^a$). This elementary fact is often useful and easily overlooked. –  Harald Hanche-Olsen Aug 7 '13 at 15:05
I mean the second proposition to prove in the original problem statement. I am sorry for the confusing question. But thank you any way. –  Pteromys Aug 8 '13 at 3:20
Oh. Yeah, I was wondering. Just using $f(y)\le f(x)$ in the integral seems to work. Now the constant factor $f(x)$ can be taken out of the integral, and the rest can be evaluated explicitly. In the end, it reduces to the first assertion. –  Harald Hanche-Olsen Aug 8 '13 at 9:26

I would try to absorb $\sqrt{x}$ in the integral, into the differential $dx$, by using the relation $d(x^{3/2})=\frac32\sqrt{x}dx$, and then use the fact that the function remains monotone after the change of variable.

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Based on the accepted answer, I provide a complete solution to the problem.

The first proposition follows from the fact that $$0 \le \frac{f(x)\sqrt{x}}{2} = \frac{xf(x)}{2\sqrt{x}}\le\int_{x/2}^x\frac{f(\xi)}{\sqrt \xi}d\xi\longrightarrow 0\ (x \longrightarrow \infty).$$ The inequality on the right follows from the monotonicity of $f$ and thus $\frac{f(\xi)}{\sqrt \xi}$.

Next, $$0 \le \int_{\epsilon x}^x\frac{f(y)}{\sqrt{x-y}}dy \le f(x)\int\frac{dy}{x-y} = 2f(x)\left[\sqrt{x - y}\right]^{y=\epsilon x}_{y=x} = 2f(x)\sqrt{(1-\epsilon) x} \le 2f((1-\epsilon) x)\sqrt{(1-\epsilon) x} \rightarrow 0\ (x\rightarrow \infty).$$

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