# Prove that if $\lim _{x\to \infty } f(x)$,then $\lim_{x\to \infty} f(x)=0$

Let $f:\Bbb R\to \Bbb R$ be a continuous function such that $\int _0^\infty f(x)\text{dx}$ exists.

Prove that if

• $\lim _{x\to \infty } f(x)$,then $\lim_{x\to \infty} f(x)=0$

• If $f$ is non-negative then $\lim _{x\to \infty } f(x)$ must exist and $\lim_{x\to \infty} f(x)=0$

My try

To prove that $\lim_{x\to \infty} f(x)=0$ we should show that $\exists G>0$ such that $x>G\implies |f(x)|<\epsilon$ for any $\epsilon>0$

• The second proposition is false, for the first one suppose that the limit of $f$ is not zero and show that the integral of $f$ is not bounded in that case. – Renart Jun 12 '16 at 14:52
• @Renart Can you provide a counter-example for the second one? – user261263 Jun 12 '16 at 14:54
• i'll post an answer – Renart Jun 12 '16 at 14:56
• – user261263 Jun 12 '16 at 14:58
• That's the kind of thing i had in mind – Renart Jun 12 '16 at 15:01

This is pretty standard. Let $F(x) = \int_{0}^{x}f(t)\,dt$ then we are given that $\lim_{x \to \infty}F(x) = L$ exists. Now by continuity of $f$ and fundamental theorem of calculus we have $F'(x) = f(x)$ and we are given that $\lim_{x \to \infty}f(x) = \lim_{x \to \infty}F'(x) = M$ also exists. We can see via mean value theorem that $$F(x + 1) - F(x) = F'(\xi) = f(\xi)$$ where $x < \xi < x + 1$. Letting $x \to \infty$ in the above equation and noting that $\xi \to \infty$ we get $$L - L = M$$ or $M = 0$ so that $f(x) \to 0$ as $x \to \infty$.

Second statement is false and counterexample is in the following figure (taken from the masterpiece A Course of Pure Mathematics by G. H. Hardy):

For all $n\in \mathbb{N}$ larger than 1,

Let $$f(x)= \begin{cases} 0 \ for \ x\leq n \\ n^4x-n^5 \ for \ n<x\leq n+1/n^3 \\ -n^4+2n+n^5 \ for \ n+1/n^3<x\leq n+2/n^3 \end{cases}$$ By some calculation $\int_n^{n+1}f(x)dx=1/n^2$. Then $\int_0^\infty f(x) = \sum_{n=2}^\infty 1/n^2$.

But $lim_{x \to \infty} f(x)$ does not exist.

• Your function is not defined on $[0, \infty)$ – user261263 Jun 12 '16 at 15:02
• I defined values of f for each $n\in \mathbb{N}$ larger than 1, so f is defined on [0,$\infty$]. – Planche Jun 12 '16 at 15:16
• You actually define a sequence of functions, it's not the same thing – user261263 Jun 12 '16 at 15:23