MATHS 730 : Measure Theory and Integration
Science
2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
This course develops the basic theory of measure and integration, with Lebesgue measure as a motivating example. It provides the essential tools for analysis and applied mathematics, and is the foundation for the theory of probability and parts of functional analysis.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
Learning Outcomes
- Know the basic definitions of measure and integral. This includes an intuitive understanding, from which the definitions could essentially be recalled many years after the course. (Capability 3, 4 and 6)
- Solve problems involving measure theory. As this a completely rigorous course, it allows for the presentation of mathematical arguments in the assignments. It is generally expected that students will make substantive progress in proof presentation in the course. Usually this involves going from overly long "proofs", often with incorrect arguments, to simple arguments with just the right amount detail to give a convincing proof. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
- Display / continue to build on their mathematical maturity. It is expected that students, will ask questions and take an active part in lectures. This involves students (either individually or as a pair) giving short presentations of some applications that cannot be covered in the theorem/proof detail of the rest of the course. In assessments students should display their mathematical maturity by being able to approach unfamiliar problems and critically evaluate purported proofs/examples. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
- Know the basic theory of measure and integral This is to be learned to high level during the course, and after the basic gist of application and arguments should be maintained. (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Assignments | 50% | Individual Coursework |
| Final Exam | 50% | Individual Examination |
| 2 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||||||
| Assignments | ||||||||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
Key Topics
- Introduction, set theory: cardinality and de Morgan's laws.
- The extended reals, and infinite limits of sequences.
- The liminf (limit inferior) and limsup (limit superior) of a sequence of extended reals, and their properties.
- Sigma algebras, and the example of the Borel sigma algebra.
- Measurable functions.
- Sums, products, limits, limsups, etc of measurable functions.
- Measures, and a proof there is no measure on the power set of the reals which has the basic properties we would desire.
- The measure of expanding and contracting sequences of sets, and sets of measure zero, including the Cantor set.
- Simple function, the approximation of a nonnegative measurable function by an increasing sequence of simple functions.
- The integral of a simple nonnegative function.
- Integration of nonnegative measurable functions, and the monotone convergence theorem.
- Fatou's Lemma, integration against a nonnegative measurable function gives a measure.
- The integral of a nonnegative function is zero iff it is zero a.e. Definition of the integral of f in terms of the integral of its positive and negative parts and space L of integrable functions.
- Dominated convergence theorem, and the continuous version.
- Norms, and L_p spaces (everything but Minkowskii's inequality and completeness proved).
- L_p is a Banach space.
Tuākana
Whanaungatanga and manaakitanga are fundamental principles of our Tuākana Mathematics programme which provides support for Māori and Pasifika students who are taking mathematics courses. The Tuākana Maths programme consists of workshops and drop-in times, and provides a space where Māori and Pasifika students are able to work alongside our Tuākana tutors and other Māori and Pasifika students who are studying mathematics.
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in. For each week of this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures, 2 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 5 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
- Attendance at lectures is expected.
- The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Recommended text:
- The Elements of Integration and Lebesgue Measure, R. G. Bartle.
Student Feedback
During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.
At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.
Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Copyright
The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.
You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.
The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.