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Lebesgue-Stieltjes measures on R are outer regular and inner regular by compact sets

Statement

Let F:R→R be nondecreasing and right-continuous, and let μF be the associated Lebesgue-Stieltjes measure. Then for every Borel set E⊆R,

μF(E)=inf⁡{ μF(U):E⊆U, U open }=sup⁡{ μF(K):K⊆E, K compact }.

If μF(E)<+∞, then equivalently: for every ε>0 there are an open set U and a compact set K with

K⊆E⊆U,μF(U∖E)<ε,μF(E∖K)<ε.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: A nondecreasing right-continuous function F:R→R, its Lebesgue-Stieltjes measure μF, a Borel set E⊆R, and ε>0.

[L1]

The half-open interval formulas hold for μF, including the formulas for open and closed intervals. (Interval formulas and atoms for a Lebesgue-Stieltjes measure)

[L2]
[L3]

The half-open intervals generate the Borel sigma-algebra on R, and the monotone class generated by an algebra is the sigma-algebra it generates. (Seven generating families for the Borel sigma-algebra on the real line, The monotone class generated by an algebra equals the sigma-algebra it generates)

[L5]

The Borel sigma-algebra of a subspace is the trace of the ambient Borel sigma-algebra. (The Borel sigma-algebra of a subspace is the trace of the ambient Borel sigma-algebra)

Proof

technique · direct
1.1L1L4choose

Every bounded half-open interval is regular. Let I=(a,b].

Choose η>0 so small that F((b+η)−)−F(b)<ε; then the open interval U:=(a,b+η) contains I and [L1] gives

μF(U∖I)=μF((b,b+η))<ε.

Likewise choose δ>0 with F((a+δ)−)−F(a)<ε; then the closed interval K:=[a+δ,b] is compact by [L4], satisfies K⊆I, and [L1] gives

μF(I∖K)=μF((a,a+δ))=F((a+δ)−)−F(a)<ε.

[L1, L4, choose]

2.1step 1.1L3L5

Fix m≥1 and write Im:=[−m,m]. Let Om be the family of Borel subsets A⊆Im such that for every ε>0 there is an open set U⊆R with

A⊆U,μF((U∩Im)∖A)<ε.

By step 1.1, every trace H∩Im with H∈H lies in Om. Those traces form an algebra on Im, because H is an algebra on R and traces preserve complements and finite unions. By [L5] together with the generator statement of [L3], they generate the Borel sigma-algebra of the subspace Im. [step 1.1, L3, L5]

3.1step 2.1L1L2

The family Om is a monotone class. If An↑A and An∈Om, choose open Un⊇An with μF((Un∩Im)∖An)<ε2−n−1.

Then U:=⋃nUn is open, contains A, and

(U∩Im)∖A⊆⋃n((Un∩Im)∖An),

so μF((U∩Im)∖A)<ε. If instead An↓A, then A0⊆Im has finite measure by [L1], so [L2] gives μF(An∖A)→0; choose n with μF(An∖A)<ε/2, then choose open Un⊇An with μF((Un∩Im)∖An)<ε/2. The open set Un contains A, and

μF((Un∩Im)∖A)≤μF((Un∩Im)∖An)+μF(An∖A)<ε.

[step 2.1, L1, L2]

4.1step 2.1step 3.1L3

Step 3.1 makes Om a monotone class containing the algebra from step 2.1.

Therefore [L3] gives that every Borel subset of Im lies in Om: every bounded Borel set is relatively outer regular inside a compact interval. [step 2.1, step 3.1, L3]

5.1step 4.1L4

Let A⊆Im be Borel. Apply step 4.1 to the Borel complement Im∖A in the subspace Im.

Choose open U⊇Im∖A with μF((U∩Im)∖(Im∖A))<ε. Put K:=Im∖U. Then K is closed in the compact interval Im, hence compact by [L4], and K⊆A. Moreover

A∖K=A∩U=(U∩Im)∖(Im∖A),

so μF(A∖K)<ε. Thus every bounded Borel set is also inner regular by compact sets. [step 4.1, L4]

6.1step 5.1L2algebra

The global inner regularity follows by truncation. Put Em:=E∩Im.

Then Em↑E, so [L2] gives μF(E)=sup⁡mμF(Em). For each m, step 5.1 gives a compact Km⊆Em⊆E with μF(Em∖Km)<1/(m+1). Hence

sup⁡{ μF(K):K⊆E, K compact }≥sup⁡mμF(Km)=sup⁡mμF(Em)=μF(E),

while the reverse inequality is monotonicity. [step 5.1, L2, algebra]

7.1step 4.1step 6.1L1L2

For global outer regularity, first suppose μF(E)<+∞. Choose m so large that μF(E∖Im)<ε/3.

This is possible directly from [L2] on E∩Im↑E. Step 4.1 gives an open V⊇E∩Im with μF((V∩Im)∖E)<ε/3. For each of the two tails E∩(m,∞) and E∩(−∞,−m), decompose into unit half-open strips and apply step 4.1 on each compact strip, choosing the errors summably below ε/3; enlarging each strip by a thin open shell whose μF-measure is also chosen summably below ε/3 via [L1], the union of those stripwise open sets is open and contributes total excess below 2ε/3. Taking the union with V gives an open set U⊇E with μF(U∖E)<ε. [step 4.1, step 6.1, L1, L2]

8.1step 6.1step 7.1algebra

If μF(E)=+∞, then every open U⊇E also has μF(U)=+∞ by monotonicity.

So inf⁡{ μF(U):E⊆U, U open }=+∞=μF(E). Combining this with step 7.1 gives the outer regularity equality in all cases. The inner regularity equality is step 6.1, and the finite-measure ε-approximation statement is exactly the combination of steps 6.1 and 7.1. [step 6.1, step 7.1, algebra] ∎

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