Absoluteness of the Riemann integral

Abstract

This article explores the concept of \emph{absoluteness} in the context of mathematical analysis, focusing specifically on the Riemann integral on $\mathbb{R}^{n}$. In mathematical logic, \emph{absoluteness} refers to the invariance of the truth value of certain statements in different mathematical universes. Leveraging this idea, we investigate the conditions under which the Riemann integral on $\mathbb{R}^{n}$ remains absolute between transitive models of $\mathrm{ZFC}$—the standard axiomatic system in which current mathematics is usually formalized. To this end, we develop a framework for integration on Boolean algebras with respect to finitely additive measures and show that the classical Riemann integral is a particular case of this generalized approach. Our main result establishes that the Riemann integral over rectangles in $\mathbb{R}^{n}$ is absolute in the following sense: if $M \subseteq N$ are transitive models of $\mathrm{ZFC}$, $a, b \in \mathbb{R}^{n} \cap M$, and $f \colon [a, b] \to \mathbb{R}$ is a bounded function in $M$, then $f$ is Riemann integrable in $M$ if, and only if, in $N$ there exists some Riemann integrable function $g \colon [a, b] \to \mathbb{R}$ extending $f$. In this case, the values of the integrals computed in each model are the same. Furthermore, the function $g$ is unique except for a measure zero set.