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Start with a finite subcover of the compact set $K$. Among its remaining open balls, retain one of greatest radius and discard every ball intersecting it. Repeat until no balls remain. The retained family $\mathcal{F}$ is finite and pairwise disjoint. If a discarded ball $B(c,r)$ met the retained ball $B(c_0,R)$, then $r\le R$ and $|c-c_0|<r+R$. Therefore, for any $y\in B(c,r)$,Every original ball lies in the concentric triple of one retained ball. This proves the Wiener covering lemma for the finite subcover. By Lebesgue measure scaling and subadditivity,Disjointness givesThe empty compact set is covered by the empty selection.

The spherical derivative of a measure at $x$ is the limitwhen it exists, where $v_d$ is the unit-ball volume. We prove that this limit is zero outside a Lebesgue-null set for the singular measure.

First derive the needed maximal estimate from the selection lemma. For a finite positive Borel measure $\eta$, putThis is the uncentered maximal function of a finite measure. For $\alpha >0$, its strict superlevel set is the union of all balls with $\eta (B)>\alpha {\lambda }_d(B)$, so it is open. Cover any compact subset $H$ of this set by such balls and apply the finite Wiener covering lemma. The selected disjoint balls giveBy inner regularity of Lebesgue measure, this proves the uncentered maximal weak-type inequality

Since $\mu$ and ${\lambda }_d$ are mutually singular measures, there is a Borel set $N$ with ${\lambda }_d(N)=0$ and $\mu ({\mathbb{R}}^d\setminus N)=0$. By regularity of finite Borel measures on Euclidean space, for each $\epsilon >0$ choose compact $L\subset N$ with $\mu ({\mathbb{R}}^d\setminus L)<\epsilon$. Define the remainder measure ${\eta }_{\epsilon }(A)=\mu (A\setminus L)$.

For $x\notin L$, distance from $x$ to this compact set is positive. Thus sufficiently small centered balls avoid $L$, andWrite ${\overline{D}}_s\mu (x)$ for the upper limit of the ratios. If it exceeds $\alpha$, then either $x\in L$ or $M_u{\eta }_{\epsilon }(x)>\alpha$. HenceThe right side has Lebesgue measure at most $3^d\epsilon /\alpha$, since ${\lambda }_d(L)=0$. This even bounds the outer measure of the left side, without a separate measurability argument for the upper density. Let $\epsilon \downarrow 0$, and then take the countable union over positive rational $\alpha$. We obtain ${\overline{D}}_s\mu =0$ Lebesgue almost everywhere. The ratios are nonnegative, so their lower limit is also zero andThis proves that the spherical derivative of a singular measure vanishes. It is important to approximate the null carrier by compact subsets: a null carrier can be dense, so points outside it need not have any neighbourhood avoiding it.

In one dimension, consider the cumulative distribution function $F$. For either sign of $h\ne 0$, monotonicity gives a nonnegative difference quotient, and the relevant half-open interval lies inside $B(x,2|h|)$. In detail, the numerator is $\mu ((x,x+h])$ for $h>0$, while after reversing both signs it is $\mu ((x+h,x])$ for $h<0$. ThusAt each point where the spherical derivative of a measure is zero, this bound tends to zero from both sides. The enlarged open interval avoids any endpoint ambiguity from atoms. Therefore the ordinary two-sided derivative exists andThis is why singular distribution functions have zero derivative almost everywhere without having to be constant: almost-everywhere differentiation recovers increments only under extra hypotheses such as absolute continuity of a function.

A version of a stochastic process means a stochastic process on the same probability space such that, for every fixed $t$,The exceptional null set may depend on $t$. Indistinguishability of stochastic processes means that there is one null set outside which $X_t=Y_t$ for all $t\ge 0$ simultaneously.

For an example separating the definitions, let $U$ have uniform distribution on $(0,1)$, and setFor every fixed $t$, $\mathbb{P}(U=t)=0$, so $Y$ is a version of a stochastic process with original stochastic process $X$. But for every sample outcome the stochastic processes differ at its time $t=U$. HenceThe spike path of $Y$ is not right-continuous at $U$, which explains why the next part's regularity assumption rules out this example.

Sample Brownian motion at integer times and put $Z_n=B_n/\sqrt{n}$. Every $Z_n$ has normal distribution $N(0,1)$, although the $Z_n$ are correlated. LetFor every fixed integer $m$,because $B_m/\sqrt{n}\to 0$ almost surely. The right-hand expression depends only on the future independent increments $B_j-B_{j-1}$ with $j>m$. Thus $\{L\ge a\}$ is, up to a null set, a tail event of those independent increments, and its probability is zero or one by the Kolmogorov zero-one law.

For any finite real $a$, every $Z_n$ exceeds $a$ with the same positive probability $p_a=\mathbb{P}(N(0,1)\ge a)$. For each $N$,Taking the decreasing intersection over $N$ shows that $Z_n\ge a$ infinitely often with probability at least $p_a$. This event implies $L\ge a$, so $\mathbb{P}(L\ge a)>0$. The zero-one law makes it one. Intersecting over positive integers $a$ gives $L=+\infty$ almost surely. The continuous-time limit superior is at least the one along integers, henceThis proves that Brownian fluctuations exceed the square-root scale without needing the lower bound in the law of the iterated logarithm.

The relevant version of Wiener covering lemma is the finite ball selection lemma: from a finite collection of open Euclidean balls one can select pairwise disjoint balls $B_j$ such that the original union is contained in ${\bigcup }_{j}3B_j$, where $3B_j$ has the same centre and three times the radius. To prove it, repeatedly retain a largest-radius remaining ball and discard every ball meeting it. If a discarded ball has radius $r\le R$ and meets a retained ball of radius $R$, every point of the former is at distance less than $r+(r+R)\le 3R$ from the latter's centre. This proves the containment and, by scaling Lebesgue measure,This is a covering result; no Fourier-algebra version of Wiener's lemma is involved.

We use it for a disjoint ball decomposition modulo null sets of $V$. The empty set needs only the empty family. Otherwise put $V_0=V$. For an open residual set $V_k$ of positive finite measure, inner regularity of Lebesgue measure supplies a compact $K_k\subseteq V_k$ with ${\lambda }_d(K_k)\ge {\lambda }_d(V_k)/2$. Cover $K_k$ by finitely many open balls whose closures lie in $V_k$, and use the Wiener covering lemma to select disjoint balls. Their total measure is at least ${\lambda }_d(V_k)/(2\cdot 3^d)$. Remove their closures to obtain the open residual set $V_{k+1}$. Ball boundaries are null sets, soAll retained balls, including those from different stages, are pairwise disjoint and contained in $V$. They form a countable family. The uncovered set is contained in ${\bigcap }_k{V}_k$ together with their countably many boundaries, and both have measure zero. Enumerating the retained balls gives

Next consider the uncentered maximal function of a finite measure. For every real $\alpha$, its strict superlevel set isIndeed, membership in the ball is exactly the strict condition $\Vert x-y\Vert <r$ in the supremum. This union is open, proving that $m_u$ is lower semicontinuous as an extended nonnegative function; it may take the value infinity.

For $\alpha >0$, take a compact subset $K$ of this superlevel set and choose a finite cover by balls satisfying the displayed density inequality. The Wiener covering lemma selects disjoint balls $B_j$ whose triples cover $K$. Since $\mu$ is a probability measure,Take the supremum over compact $K$ using inner regularity of Lebesgue measure. This works even if the open superlevel set was initially unbounded, and proves the uncentered maximal weak-type inequalityFor a finite positive measure of mass $M$, scaling gives $3^{d}M/\alpha$ instead.

One important use is the Lebesgue differentiation theorem. For $f\in L^1({\mathbb{R}}^d)$, approximate it in $L^1$ by a compactly supported continuous $g$, and set $h=|f-g|$. The limiting mean oscillation of $f$ at $x$ is at most $m_{h{\lambda }_d}(x)+h(x)$, since that of $g$ vanishes by continuity. The preceding weak-type estimate and the elementary integral bound on $\{h>t\}$ giveLet the approximation error tend to zero and then take countably many $t\downarrow 0$. The local averages of $f$ converge to $f(x)$ almost everywhere. Localizing extends this to locally integrable functions. Thus the maximal estimate turns norm approximation by continuous functions into almost-everywhere information about local averages.

A Sierpiński set is an uncountable subset $S$ of $\mathbb{R}$ such that $S\cap N$ is countable for every set $N$ of Lebesgue measure zero. Equivalently it is enough to test Borel null sets, because every null set is contained in a Borel null set. Uncountability and countable intersection with every null set are both required. This is the measure analogue of the category-based Luzin set condition; it does not say that $S$ itself is measurable.

For $t\in \mathbb{R}$, define the set functionalThe ROF level-set formulation states that the unique minimizer of $J(u)=\Vert u-f{\Vert }_2^2/2+\alpha \mathrm{TV}(u)$ has superlevel sets minimizing $F_t$ for almost every $t$. Conversely, an admissible $u$ with minimizing superlevel sets is the ROF minimizer. Thus the concise characterization is

The signed layer-cake identity for quadratic fidelity and the coarea formula for BV functions giveIndeed $u^2/2-fu={\int }_{\mathbb{R}}(t-f)({\chi }_{\{u>t\}}-{\chi }_{\{0>t\}})dt$ pointwise. Its absolute integral is bounded by $u^2/2+|fu|$, so Fubini's theorem applies for $u,f\in L^2$. The negative-level baseline is essential; integrating the unadjusted $F_t$ would generally diverge.

Each $F_t$ attains its minimum. A minimizing sequence of indicator functions has bounded $L^1$ norm, and comparison with the empty set bounds its perimeter by an $L^1$ forcing bound. Bounded-variation compactness supplies a limiting indicator function. The forcing integral converges by dominated convergence, while relative perimeter is sequentially lower semicontinuous.

For $s<t$, the supplied comparison lemma applied to $(f-t)/\alpha <(f-s)/\alpha$ makes every selected minimizer $A_t$ contained in $A_s$ up to a null set. The comparison of perimeter minimizers with ordered forcing also follows directly: compare $A_t$ with $A_t\cap A_s$, compare $A_s$ with $A_t\cup A_s$, add and use submodularity of relative perimeter to obtain $(t-s)|A_t\setminus A_s|\le 0$.

Select minimizers at rational levels, remove their countably many exceptional null sets, and reconstruct $v(x)=\sup \{q\in \mathbb{Q}:x\in A_q\}$. The strict superlevel set is $\{v>t\}={\bigcup }_{q>t}{A}_q$. This union also minimizes $F_t$: take $q\downarrow t$, use monotone $L^1$ convergence of its indicator functions and sequential lower semicontinuity, and note that $m(t)={\min }_E{F}_t(E)$ satisfies $|m(t)-m(s)|\le |\Omega ||t-s|$.

To justify finite energy before assuming it, clip this reconstruction to $v_M\in [-M,M]$. Comparison with the empty set gives $\alpha \mathrm{Per}(E_t;\Omega )\le {\int }_{\Omega }|t-f|$ uniformly on a bounded interval of levels. Since $v_M=-M+{\int }_{-M}^M{\chi }_{E_t}dt$, pairing with compactly supported test-field divergences bounds its total variation seminorm by ${\int }_{-M}^M\mathrm{Per}(E_t;\Omega )dt<\infty$. Thus $v_M$ belongs to the BV space before applying the coarea formula for BV functions. The layer-cake argument on the finite interval $[-M,M]$ shows $J(v_M)\le J(T_{M}w)$ for every finite-energy competitor $w$, where $T_M$ is clipping. In particular $w=0$ bounds the $L^2$ norms and variations uniformly. Fatou's lemma excludes infinite values of $v$ on a positive-measure set. Bounded-variation compactness and weak convergence in $L^2$ identify an admissible limit $v$. For any fixed competitor, $T_{M}w\to w$ in $L^2$ and its variation tends to that of $w$, by bounded-variation contraction under clipping and sequential lower semicontinuity. Thus $J(v)\le J(w)$.

The quadratic fidelity is strictly convex, so every ROF minimizer equals $v$ almost everywhere and has the selected minimizing superlevel sets. Conversely, for any $u$ whose levels minimize $F_t$, integrate the levelwise inequality against any competitor's levels in the displayed identity to obtain $J(u)\le J(w)$. This proves both directions for signed as well as nonnegative data.

Fix $t>0$ and partition $[0,t]$ into $m$ equal intervals, with $r_k=kt/m$. Round $t\wedge T$ upward within this interval. The corresponding sampled value isEvery time in this sum is at most $t$. The stopping time property makes each indicator function ${\mathcal{F}}_t$-measurable, while the adapted process property makes each sampled value ${\mathcal{F}}_t$-measurable. Consequently $Y_m$ is ${\mathcal{F}}_t$-measurable.

The rounded times approach $t\wedge T$ from the right, so right continuity gives $Y_m\to X_{t\wedge T}$ for the chosen pathwise càdlàg version. If path regularity is instead stated only almost surely, the usual complete filtration handles the exceptional null set; on an incomplete filtration one should formulate that case as existence of an adapted version. At $t=0$, the value is simply $X_0$. Thus $X^T$ is an adapted process, by adaptedness of a stopped right-continuous process. The argument actually needs neither the martingale property nor boundedness of $T$.

A càdlàg martingale is an adapted process $X$ with càdlàg paths, integrable $X_t$ at each finite time, andThe càdlàg requirement means that the chosen path version is right-continuous and has a finite left limit at every positive time. With a complete filtration, it suffices that this holds on one common event of probability one, since the process can be redefined on the exceptional null set.

The usual hypotheses for a filtration are completeness and right continuity. Completeness means that ${\mathcal{F}}_0$ contains every subset of every null event of the ambient probability space; right continuity means

The Radon-Nikodym theorem for positive measures says: if $\mu$ and $\nu$ are sigma-finite measures on the same measurable space, and $\nu$ is absolutely continuous with respect to $\mu$, then there is a nonnegative measurable function $g$, unique $\mu$-almost everywhere, such thatHere sigma-finiteness means that the space is a countable union of measurable sets of finite measure; absolute continuity of measures, written $\nu \ll \mu$, means that $\mu (E)=0$ implies $\nu (E)=0$. The function $g=d\nu /d\mu$ is the Radon-Nikodym derivative. For a finite signed or complex measure $\nu$ of finite total variation norm of a measure, absolutely continuous with respect to a sigma-finite $\mu$, the corresponding density belongs to $L^1(\mu )$. This follows by applying the positive theorem to the positive and negative parts of the real and imaginary parts of $\nu$.

For every measure space and $1<p<\infty$, $(L^p{)}^{\ast }$ is isometrically $L^q$, where $1/p+1/q=1$. We use the complex-linear pairingWith the convention $\int h\overline{g}$, the same identification is conjugate-linear in $g$. By Hölder's inequality, ${\Phi }_g$ is a bounded linear functional with $\Vert {\Phi }_g\Vert \le \Vert g{\Vert }_q$. If $g\ne 0$, setinterpreting the numerator as zero where $g=0$. The identity $(q-1)p=q$ gives $\Vert h{\Vert }_p=1$ and ${\Phi }_g(h)=\Vert g{\Vert }_q$. ThusIt remains to represent an arbitrary $\Phi \in (L^p{)}^{\ast }$, rather than merely produce functionals from $L^q$.

We prove Lp duality on an arbitrary measure space without imposing sigma-finiteness on $\mu$. Write $C=\Vert \Phi \Vert$. For every measurable set $E$ with $\mu (E)<\infty$, define a complex measure on $E$ byIt is countably additive: for disjoint $F_j\subseteq E$, the partial sums of their indicator functions tend in $L^p$ to $1_{\bigcup F_j}$, because the measure of the omitted tail tends to zero. It is absolutely continuous with respect to $\mu {|}_E$, since indicator functions of null sets represent zero in $L^p$.

Its total variation norm of a measure is finite. For any finite measurable partition $E={\bigcup }_j{E}_j$, choose scalars $c_j$ of modulus $1$ with $c_j{\nu }_E(E_j)=|{\nu }_E(E_j)|$. ThenTaking the supremum over partitions gives the variation bound. Since $\mu {|}_E$ is finite, the Radon-Nikodym theorem supplies $g_E\in L^1(E)$ with ${\nu }_E(F)={\int }_F{g}_{E}d\mu$. By uniform approximation with simple functions,for every bounded measurable $h$ supported in $E$.

To improve $g_E$ from $L^1$ to $L^q$, test with the bounded functionIf $I_N={\int }_{E\cap \{|g_E|\le N\}}|g_E{|}^{q}d\mu$, thenThus $I_N^{1/q}\le C$ when $I_N>0$, and the same bound is trivial when it is zero. The monotone convergence theorem givesIf $E,F$ both have finite measure, the densities $g_E,g_F$ agree almost everywhere on $E\cap F$: their integrals over every measurable subset of the intersection equal the same functional value. This is uniqueness in the Radon-Nikodym theorem.

We now perform support localization of an Lp functional. SetChoose finite-measure sets $E_n$ whose displayed integrals tend to $M$, and let $D_n=E_1\cup \cdots \cup E_n$, $S={\bigcup }_n{D}_n$. If $M=0$, take $E_n=\varnothing$. Compatibility allows us to define a measurable function $g$ on $S$ by taking $g_{D_n}$ on the disjoint measurable sets $D_n\setminus D_{n-1}$, and put $g=0$ off $S$. It agrees almost everywhere with $g_{D_n}$ on every $D_n$. Moreover,Indeed each integral is at most $M$, and it is at least the integral over $E_n$, which tends to $M$.

For any finite-measure set $F\subseteq \Omega \setminus S$, compatibility on the disjoint union $D_n\cup F$ givesLetting $n\to \infty$ forces $g_F=0$ almost everywhere. For an arbitrary finite-measure set $E$, compatibility on $E\cap D_n$ and the preceding conclusion on $E\setminus S$ show that $g_E=g$ almost everywhere on $E$. Consequently $\Phi (h)=\int hgd\mu$ for every simple function supported on a finite-measure set.

Those simple functions are dense in $L^p$ even for this arbitrary measure space. To see the needed finite-support property, for $h\in L^p$ the sets $\{|h|>1/n\}$ have finite measure, bounded by $n^p\Vert h{\Vert }_p^p$. First truncate $h$ to such sets and to bounded values, then approximate by simple functions; the discarded $L^p$ integral tends to zero. Continuity of $\Phi$ and Hölder's inequality therefore extend the representation to every $h\in L^p$.

We have constructed $g\in L^q$ with $\Phi ={\Phi }_g$, and the previously proved norm identity gives $\Vert g{\Vert }_q=\Vert \Phi \Vert$. It also proves uniqueness: if ${\Phi }_g={\Phi }_{\tilde{g}}$, then $\Vert g-\tilde{g}{\Vert }_q=0$. This completes the isometric duality of Lp spaces.

The dominated sequence actually converges to zero in norm, and hence weakly. The assumptions give $|f_n{|}^p\le |f{|}^p\in L^1$ and $|f_n{|}^p\to 0$ almost everywhere. The dominated convergence theorem yieldsFor every $\Phi \in (L^p{)}^{\ast }$, $|\Phi (f_n)|\le \Vert \Phi \Vert \Vert f_n{\Vert }_p\to 0$. Therefore

A discrete random variable on a probability space $(\Omega ,\mathcal{F},\mathbb{P})$ is a real-valued measurable function $X:\Omega \to \mathbb{R}$ whose probability distribution is concentrated on some finite or countable set $S$:Measurability means $\{\omega :X(\omega )\le t\}\in \mathcal{F}$ for every real $t$. Its probability mass function is $p_X(x)=\mathbb{P}(X=x)$, and ${\sum }_{x\in S}{p}_X(x)=1$. Requiring a countable image everywhere, rather than outside a null set, is an equivalent convention after harmless modification on a null set.

Solutions to every part of all three questions of the probability, measure and martingales course of the University of Oxford Part B examination, sat on 5 June 2023. Source: original released PDF, bundle pages 288–291; paper pages 1–4. The native PDF confirms the endpoint defect in Question 2: its slope formula evaluates $f$ outside $[0,1]$ when $X=1$. We specify values on that null set below. Question 1(b)'s literal measurability assertion uses everywhere sign-valued random variables; for arbitrary versions with the stated probability distributions, it holds up to null sets, as explained in the solution.

For $m\ge 1$, fix signs $x_1,\dots ,x_m$. The constraints $X_j=x_j$ leave exactly two choices for the $(m+1)$ signs $Y_0,\dots ,Y_m$: choose $Y_0$ freely, then set $Y_1=Y_0{x}_1$ and $Y_j=x_{j-1}{x}_j$ for $2\le j\le m$. Each input tuple has probability $2^{-(m+1)}$ by independence. ConsequentlyEvery finite subfamily is a marginal distribution of one such initial segment, so the entire sequence is independent, with fair sign probability distributions.

Using the usual everywhere sign-valued representatives, for every $n\ge 1$ we haveThe right side is measurable with respect to $\sigma (\mathcal{Y},{\mathcal{T}}_n)$. Therefore $Y_0$ is measurable with respect to their intersection $\mathcal{G}$.

Write $\mathcal{T}={\bigcap }_n{\mathcal{T}}_n$. The Kolmogorov zero-one law applies to the independent random variables $(X_n)$, so every event $C\in \mathcal{T}$ has probability zero or one. Also $Y_0$ is independent of $\mathcal{Y}$: this follows first for finite intersections of sign events from the given independence, then for their generated sigma-algebra by part (a).

The sets $D\cap C$ with $D\in \mathcal{Y}$ and $C\in \mathcal{T}$ form a pi-system generating $\mathcal{H}$. If $\mathbb{P}(C)=0$, the event $D\cap C$ has probability zero and is independent of every event in $\sigma (Y_0)$. If $\mathbb{P}(C)=1$, it differs from $D$ by a null set, so the same independence follows from that of $Y_0$ and $\mathcal{Y}$. Another application of part (a) provesIn particular $\mathcal{H}$ cannot contain the nontrivial event $\{Y_0=1\}$, whereas $\mathcal{G}$ does. Thus adjoining a sigma-algebra need not commute with a decreasing intersection.

There is a small version qualification if the assumptions specify only the probability distributions, allowing exceptional values other than signs. Put $q_n=X_n/(Y_1\cdots Y_n)$ when the denominator is nonzero, and $q_n=0$ otherwise. For $k\ge n$, $q_k$ is measurable with respect to $\sigma (\mathcal{Y},{\mathcal{T}}_n)$. The limit superior of $(q_k)$, after scalar clipping to $[-1,1]$, is therefore $\mathcal{G}$-measurable and equals $Y_0$ almost surely. Literal measurability of an arbitrary version of $Y_0$ need not follow without choosing sign-valued representatives or adjoining the ambient null sets. All the independence conclusions are unaffected.

Apply part (i) for every positive integer $K$ and discard the countable union of its exceptional null sets. A sample path bounded below never reaches $-K$ for some such $K$, and must therefore converge to a finite limit of a sequence.

Apply the same argument to the martingale $(-M_n)$. Outside one more null set, every sample path bounded above also converges finitely. Thus a sample path which does not converge finitely must be unbounded in both directions. Each finite initial segment has finite values, so removing any such segment preserves unboundedness. It follows that the limit superior is $+\infty$ and the limit inferior is $-\infty$. ConsequentlyThis proves the bounded-increment martingale convergence-or-oscillation dichotomy; in particular one-sided divergence to infinity is impossible with positive probability.

Both $X_n$ and $A_n$ are increasing, so each has a limit of a sequence in $[0,\infty ]$. Apply part (c)(ii) to the martingale $M_n=X_n-A_n$, whose bounded increments were verified in part (i).

On $\{X_{\infty }<\infty ,A_{\infty }=\infty \}$ we would have $M_n\to -\infty$. On $\{X_{\infty }=\infty ,A_{\infty }<\infty \}$ we would have $M_n\to +\infty$. Both events have probability zero by the convergence-or-oscillation conclusion. Hence the two divergence events agree up to a null set. Since $X_{\infty }=\infty$ means precisely that infinitely many $B_n$ occur,Taking probabilities proves the displayed equality in the question. This stronger agreement of events is the Conditional Borel-Cantelli lemma.

We prove the Doob-Dynkin lemma here by simple function approximation. Choose $C<\infty$ such that $|Z|\le C$ everywhere, and letEach $Z_m$ is a finite-valued $\sigma (X)$-measurable function and $Z_m\to Z$ pointwise. Write its level sets as $A_{m,j}$, with associated values $z_{m,j}$. By part (i), choose Borel sets $D_{m,j}$ with $A_{m,j}=X^{-1}(D_{m,j})$. Define the Borel measurable functionsAlthough the chosen $D_{m,j}$ need not partition all of $\mathbb{R}$, their inverse images do partition $\Omega$, so $g_m(X)=Z_m$ exactly.

Apply scalar clipping to each $g_m$ with bounds $[-C-1,C+1]$, preserving this equality, and define $g(x)={\mathrm{limsup}}_m{g}_m(x)$. A bounded limit superior of Borel measurable functions is a finite Borel measurable function. At every $\omega \in \Omega$ the limit of a sequence exists and givesThus the factorization is exact for a bounded, exactly $\sigma (X)$-measurable function. If hypotheses are instead given only up to null sets, the corresponding conclusion is a factorization holding almost surely after choosing a representative.

For this part and part (c), take $X$ to be $[0,1]$-valued everywhere. The uniform distribution gives $\mathbb{P}(X=1)=0$, but the paper's expression for $Z_n$ is undefined there because $X_n+2^{-n}>1$. Define $Z_n=0$ on $\{X=1\}$. Keep $X_n=\lfloor 2^{n}X\rfloor /2^n$ exactly as printed, including $X_n=1$ on that null set; this preserves the exact sigma-algebra equality in part (ii). Every slope formula below is asserted on $\{X<1\}$, hence almost surely.

For $1\le j\le n$, repeated use of the floor function identity givesThus the filtration satisfies ${\mathcal{F}}_n=\sigma (X_n)$. Each positive-probability atom of a sigma-algebra here has the formwith probability $2^{-n}$; $\{X=1\}$ is a possible additional null set atom. Averaging over each dyadic interval gives a versionFor a globally defined version of the right side, assign any value, for example zero, on $\{X=1\}$.

Indeed, the displayed random variable is ${\mathcal{F}}_n$-measurable and bounded by $\sup |h|$. On each $A_{n,k}$ its integral isby the uniform distribution. Every member of ${\mathcal{F}}_n$ is a union of the displayed sets and the possible zero-probability atom. Summing these identities therefore verifies the defining conditional expectation property on all of ${\mathcal{F}}_n$.

We first establish the lower truncation identity as well. The pair $(-X,-Y)$ has the same hypotheses as $(X,Y)$, because conditional expectation is linear and negation preserves equality of probability distributions. Apply part (ii) to this pair and multiply by $-1$ to getFor every real $t$,Using this identity, part (ii), the lower truncation identity, and linearity of conditional expectation givesIn particular the argument does not assume that a function obtained by scalar clipping is a convex function or a concave function.

Write $C_a(t)=(t\wedge a)\vee (-a)$. The bounded random variables $C_a(X)$ and $C_a(Y)$ have the same probability distribution, and the displayed identity identifies the latter as the conditional expectation of the former. They are square-integrable, so part (i) gives $C_a(X)=C_a(Y)$ almost surely. Take $a=1,2,\dots$ and discard the countable union of exceptional null sets. At every remaining outcome, let $a\to \infty$ to obtainThus conditional expectation preserving a distribution forces equality even when only integrability is assumed.

Every finite positive Borel measure on Euclidean space is inner regular by compact sets and outer regular by open sets. For an open set $U$, the compact sets $\{x:|x|\le n,\mathrm{dist}(x,U^c)\ge 1/n\}$ increase to $U$, so continuity from below of a measure gives inner approximation. The empty complement is handled by compact balls. The class of Borel sets admitting both approximations is closed under complements: interchange inner and outer approximations, then truncate the inner closed set by a large compact ball, using finiteness of the measure. For a countable union, approximate its components from outside with summable errors, and approximate finitely many components from inside after making the remaining union's measure small. Thus this class is a sigma-algebra containing the open sets. In particular, a finite measure carried by a Borel null set has compact subsets of that carrier capturing arbitrarily nearly all its mass.

An uncountable subset $S$ of the real numbers whose intersection with every null set for Lebesgue measure is countable. Testing only Borel sets suffices because every Lebesgue-null set has a Borel null superset. No measurability of $S$ is assumed.