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Let $f:(a\,..b) \rightarrow \mathbb R$ and $F:[a\,..b]\rightarrow \mathbb R$ be two real functions. Let $F$ be differentiable on $(a\,..b)$ and continuous on $[a\,..b]$. Let $f$ be continuous on $(a\,..b)$. Then $F$ is called an antiderivative of $f$ with respect to $x$ iff $\forall x \in(a\,..b):F'(x)=f(x)$.

Why, in this definition, does $f$ need to be continuous on $(a\,..b)$? Why isn't $F$ considered an antiderivative of $f$ when $\forall x \in (a\,..b):F'(x)=f(x)$ but $f$ isn't continuous?

J. M. ain't a mathematician
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asdasdf
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  • It doesn't have to be continuous. – MathematicsStudent1122 Feb 24 '17 at 18:04
  • Because if $f$ is not continuous at some point $x$, then the derivative of $F$ might not be defined at $x$. Take for example $f(x)$ equal to $1$ on the positive real axis and $0$ otherwise... However, as duly pointed out by @MathematicsStudent1122, being continuous is not necessary to define the integral (but there are some conditions you have to impose). – Daniel Robert-Nicoud Feb 24 '17 at 18:05
  • @DanielRobert-Nicoud but $F$ is already assumed to be differentiable on the whole interval. – mathematician Feb 24 '17 at 18:06
  • @mathematician Well then $f$ is automatically continuous, isn't it? (At least, to me differentiable means $C^1$.) – Daniel Robert-Nicoud Feb 24 '17 at 18:07
  • @DanielRobert-Nicoud "but there are some conditions you have to impose" What are these conditions? – asdasdf Feb 24 '17 at 18:10
  • @asdasdfsss See http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/151060/conditions-for-integrability – Daniel Robert-Nicoud Feb 24 '17 at 18:12
  • @DanielRobert-Nicoud I think it's pretty standard to define "a function that is differentiable on some interval" as "a function that is differentiable at all points on the interval" and nothing more. – mathematician Feb 24 '17 at 18:13

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I suppose you can call $F$ an antiderivative of $f$ even when $f$ isn't continuous. That's just a matter of terminology. I'm not sure what the conventions are.

However, note that if $f$ is continuous, it is very easy to prove that the antiderivative $F$ actually exists. You just take $F(x) = \int_a^x f$; the fact that $F'(x) = f(x)$ follows by observing that $(F(x+h)-F(x))/h = (1/h)\int_x^{x+h} f$ which tends to $f(x)$ as $h \to 0$ by continuity of $f$.

Also, note that for $f$ Lebesgue integrable but not necessarily continuous on $[a,b]$, the function $F(x) = \int_a^x f$ obeys $F'(x) = f(x)$ almost everywhere. So the notion of antiderivatives does apply to discontinuous $f$. See Theorem 7.11 in Rudin's Real and Complex Analysis.

Kenny Wong
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