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A continuous real function on [0,1] whose every moment 01xnf vanishes is identically zero

Statement

Let f:[0,1]R be continuous (Continuity of f:AR at a point of A and on A: the ε-δ condition, its agreement with limxcf(x)=f(c) at a limit point, and continuity at an isolated point) and suppose that

01xnf(x)dx  =  0for every nN.

Then f(x)=0 for every x[0,1].

The hypothesis includes n=0, which reads 01f=0. Continuity is doing real work here rather than tidying: the last step of the proof is A continuous f0 on [a,b] with abf=0 is identically 0, and its companion FALSE: a nonnegative Riemann integrable function on [a,b] with abf=0 is identically zero shows that a merely integrable nonnegative function with integral 0 need not be identically zero.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: A continuous f:[0,1]R with 01xnf(x)dx=0 for every nN.

[L1]

For every fC([0,1],R) and ε>0, there is a polynomial p with supx[0,1]p(x)f(x)<ε (Polynomials are uniformly dense in C([0,1],R)).

[L2]

Sums, scalar multiples and products of functions continuous at a point are continuous at that point; and, with no hypothesis at all, every constant function, the identity, every xxn for nN, and every polynomial function with real coefficients are continuous (Sums, scalar multiples, products, absolute values, maxima, minima and quotients with nonvanishing denominator of continuous functions are continuous, as are constants, the identity and every polynomial function).

[L3]

For reals a<b, a continuous g:[a,b]R is bounded and Riemann integrable on [a,b] (A continuous function on [a,b] is Riemann integrable, by Heine-Cantor and Riemann's criterion).

[L4]

For reals a<b, integrable g,h:[a,b]R and reals λ,μ, the function λg+μh is integrable on [a,b] and ab(λg+μh)=λabg+μabh (Integrable functions on [a,b] form a set closed under sums and scalar multiples, and ab(λf+μg)=λabf+μabg).

[L5]

For reals a<b and integrable g:[a,b]R: if g(x)0 for every x[a,b] then abg0; and if mg(x)M for every x[a,b] with m,M real, then m(ba)abgM(ba) (If fg on [a,b] and both are integrable then abfabg; and m(ba)abfM(ba)).

[L7]

For reals a<b, if g:[a,b]R is continuous with g(x)0 for every x[a,b] and abg=0, then g(x)=0 for every x[a,b] (A continuous f0 on [a,b] with abf=0 is identically 0).

Proof

technique · direct
1.1

For each nN the function xxn is continuous on [0,1], so xxnf(x) is continuous on [0,1] as a product of continuous functions, and is therefore integrable; so each integral in the hypothesis is defined.

givenL2L3
1.2

f is bounded and integrable on [0,1], so there is a real M>0 with f(x)M for every x[0,1]; if the bound supplied is 0, replace it by 1.

givenL3choose
1.3

f2 is continuous on [0,1] as a product of continuous functions, hence integrable, and f(x)20 for every x[0,1], so 01f20.

givenL2L3L5
2.1

Let p(x)=a0+a1x++amxm be any real polynomial. Each xajxjf(x) is integrable by step 1.1, and applying the linearity identity m times to the finite sum gives 01pf=jmaj01xjf, every summand of which is 0 by hypothesis, so 01pf=0.

step 1.1L4givenalgebra
2.2

Let ε>0. Choose a polynomial p with supx[0,1]p(x)f(x)<ε/M, which is legitimate since ε/M>0 by step 1.2.

step 1.2L1choose
3.1

The polynomial p chosen in step 2.2 is continuous on [0,1] by [L2] and hence integrable by [L3]; so fp is integrable by [L4], and both (fp)f and pf are integrable by [L6]. Since f2=(fp)f+pf pointwise on [0,1], [L4] gives 01f2=01(fp)f+01pf, and the second term is 0 by step 2.1, giving 01f2=01(fp)f.

step 1.1step 2.1step 2.2L2L3L4L6algebra
3.2

For every x[0,1], f(x)p(x)f(x)<(ε/M)M=ε by steps 1.2 and 2.2, so ε(fp)(x)f(x)ε on [0,1]; since 10=1, the two-sided bound gives 01(fp)fε.

step 1.2step 2.2L5algebra
4.1

Combining, 001f2ε.

step 1.3step 3.1step 3.2
5.1

Step 4.1 holds for every ε>0, and the value 01f2 does not depend on ε; were it positive, taking ε to be half of it would contradict step 4.1, so 01f2=0.

step 4.1algebra
6.1

f2 is continuous on [0,1], nonnegative there, and has integral 0 by step 5.1, so f(x)2=0 for every x[0,1], and hence f(x)=0 for every x[0,1].

step 1.3step 5.1L7algebra

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