The Lebesgue integral as a Riemann integral (Q1099271)

The aim of this paper is to present a simple approach to the Lebesgue integral of functions of several variables based upon the definition of the Lebesgue integral as a (possibly improper) Riemann integral. This was done by Rey Pastor for functions defined on a set of finite measure and by using the Riemann-Stieltjes integral. The present paper reconstructs the Lebesgue theory for functions defined over sets of arbitrary measure and avoids any use of the Riemann-Stieltjes integral. If \(E\subset R^ n\) is measurable and \(f: E\to R\) is measurable, the measure function of f on E is defined by \(\mu_ f(y)=m\{x\in E: f(x)>y\}\) if \(y>0\) and \(\mu_ f(y)=-m\{x\in E: f(x)<y\}\) if \(y<0\). Then, the Lebesgue integral of f is defined by \(\int_{E}f=\int^{+\infty}_{-\infty}\mu_ f\) (where the right hand member denotes an improper Riemann integral) if the right hand member exists. The basic properties of the Lebesgue integral are then deduced from this definition.