 Total variation of a function

The total variation of a function $f:[a,b]\to \mathbb{R}$ measures its accumulated rises and falls, rather than just its change between the endpoints. For each partition of an interval $\Pi =(a=t_0<\cdots <t_n=b)$, add the absolute values of its sampled increments. Then take the supremum over all such partitions of an interval:The function has bounded variation when $V_a^b(f)<\infty$. This definition uses its value at every point of the interval, including both endpoints.^[ref]

For a nondecreasing function, all increments are nonnegative and the sum telescopes to $f(b)-f(a)$. More generally, the triangle inequality gives $|f(b)-f(a)|\le V_a^b(f)$. Equality can fail dramatically when the function changes direction: an object can travel a long distance and finish near its starting position. Here we measure movement of the function's value; arc length of its function graph also includes horizontal movement.