Clayton Shonkwiler

Math 617

Instructor: Dr. Clayton Shonkwiler
Time: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 1:00–1:50
Location: Weber 008
Office: Weber 216
Office Hours: Monday 2:00–3:00, Wednesday 2:00–3:00 and 4:00–5:00, and by appointment
Email Address: clayton@math.colostate.edu
Syllabus

Lecture Notes

Homework


Overview

Measure theory provides the theoretical underpinnings of modern definitions of the integral and serves as the foundation for current approaches to functional analysis and distribution theory – and hence in particular to solving partial differential equations – as well as to probability theory, fractals, and dynamical systems.

The main goal of the course is to develop the basic theory: definitions and examples of \(\sigma\)-algebras and measures, the definition of measurable functions and of the Lebesgue integral, and the Lebesgue–Radon–Nikodym theorem. That groundwork will then allow us to develop two applications of the theory: to Fourier analysis (by way of functional analysis), and to probability theory. If time permits, we will conclude with some connections to random walks and polymer models.

A background in classical real analysis (i.e., MATH 517 material) and some familiarity with the basic concepts of point-set topology and vector spaces are essential prerequisites.

Some other texts that may be useful supplements:

  • Real Analysis: Measure Theory, Integration, and Hilbert Spaces, by Elias M. Stein and Rami Shakarchi
  • Real and Complex Analysis, by Walter Rudin
  • Measure and Integral: An Introduction to Real Analysis, by Richard L. Wheeden and Antoni Zygmund
  • An Introduction to Lebesgue Integration and Fourier Series, by Howard J. Wilcox and David L. Myers
  • An Introduction to Measure Theory, by Terence Tao