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What are the three hypotheses required to apply the Dominated Convergence Theorem in this calculus-level presentation?

The three hypotheses are: (1) a sequence of functions fnf_n converges to a function ff on the interval [a,b][a,b]; (2) there exists a dominating function gg such that ∣g(x)∣≥∣fn(x)∣|g(x)| \ge |f_n(x)| for all nn and all x∈[a,b]x \in [a,b]; and (3) the integral of the dominating function over the interval is finite, meaning ∫abg(x) dx<∞\int_a^b g(x)\,dx < \infty.

Conditions

  • The theorem is presented in a calculus-oriented form rather than a full measure-theoretic proof.
  • The interval [a,b][a,b] is a closed, bounded real interval.

Reasoning, step by step

  1. Identify the convergence of the function sequence fn→ff_n \to f on [a,b][a,b].
  2. Verify the existence of a dominating function gg that bounds the absolute values of all fnf_n uniformly in nn.
  3. Check that the definite integral of the dominating function gg over [a,b][a,b] does not diverge.

Example

The board lists the hypotheses in sequence: fn→ff_n \to f, x∈[a,b]x \in [a,b]; ∃g\exists g s.t. ∣g∣≥∣fn∣|g| \ge |f_n|, x∈[a,b]x \in [a,b], ∀n\forall n; and ∫abgdx<∞\int_a^b g dx < \infty.

Common misconceptions

  • Assuming that pointwise convergence alone is sufficient without a dominating function.
  • Believing that any dominating function works, even if its integral over the interval diverges.

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