# Weakest hypothesis for integration by parts

I was wondering what are the weakest hypothesis for applying integration by parts to calculate $$\int_a^b fg \, dm,$$ where $$m$$ denotes the Lebesgue measure on $$\mathbb R$$.

Is it enough that $$f$$ be differentiable on $$(a,b)$$, $$f' \in L^1(a,b)$$ and $$g \in L^1(a,b)$$ to write

$$\int_a^b fg \,dm = \left[f(x)\int_a^x g(t) \,dm(t)\right]_a^b - \int_a^b f'(x) \left(\int_a^x g(t) \,dm(t) \right) \,dm(x)\text{ ?}$$

• the primitive of $g$ must also be integrable, no? Mar 28, 2013 at 23:54
• What is the primitive of g? Mar 29, 2013 at 11:17
• $\int_a^x g(t) dm(t)$ Mar 29, 2013 at 15:42

Proposition: Assume that $f$ is absolutely continuous on $[a,b]$ and $g\in L^1([a,b])$. For $x\in[a,b]$, denote $G(x)=\int_a^xg~dm$. Then $$\int_a^b fg~dm=f(b)G(b)-f(a)G(a)-\int_a^bf'G~dm.\tag{1}$$
Proof: Since both $f$ and $G$ are absolutely continuous on $[a,b]$, $fG$ is also absolutely continuous on $[a,b]$, and
$$(fG)'(x)=f'(x)G(x)+f(x)g(x)\quad a.e. x\in[a,b].\tag{2}$$ Integrating $(2)$ over $[a,b]$, $(1)$ follows. $\quad\square$
Remark: If $f$ is differentiable on $[a,b]$ and $f'\in L^1([a,b])$, then $f$ is absolutely continuous on $[a,b]$. See, for example, Theorem 7.21 in Real and Complex Analysis(Third Edition) by Walter Rudin.
• Can you provide the proof of $G$ being absolutely continuous? Also what assumptions do you need to integrate the right side of equation (2)? Apr 13, 2013 at 8:29
• @Cantor: See the same wikipedia page as given in my answer. There is a list of equivalent conditions of absolute continuity. In particular, (3) implies that $G$ is absolute continuous. Moreover, $G'=g$ almost everywhere. Since $f'$(resp. $g$)$\in L^1$ and $G$(resp. $f$) is bounded, $f'G\in L^1$(resp. $fg\in L^1$), so RHS in $(2)$ is integrable.