Derivative of convolution

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Assume that $f(x),g(x)$ are positive and are in $L^1$. Moreover, they are differentiable and their derivative is integrable. Let $h(x)=f(x)*g(x)$, the convolution of $f$ and $g$. Does the derivative of $h(x)$ exist? If yes, how can we prove that$$ \frac{d}{dx}(f(x)*g(x)) = \left(\frac{d}{dx}f(x)\right)*g(x)$$

Thanks

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3 Answers

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Using this thread, and the fact that if $f_1$ and $f_2$ are two integrable functions, $\mathcal F(f\star g)=\mathcal F(f)\cdot\mathcal F(g)$, we have $$\mathcal F\left(\frac d{dx}(f\star g)\right)(x)=ix\mathcal F\left((f\star g)\right)(x)=ix \mathcal F(f)(x)\cdot \mathcal F(g)(x),$$ and $$\mathcal F\left(\left(\frac d{dx}f\right)\star g\right)(x)=\left(\mathcal F\left(\frac d{dx}f\right)\right)\cdot\left(\mathcal F(g)(x)\right)=ix \mathcal F(f)(x)\cdot \mathcal F(g)(x).$$ We conclude by uniqueness of Fourier transform.

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Definition: $$h(x)=f*g(x)=\int_A f(x-t)g(t)dt$$ where A is a support of function $q()$, i.e. $A=\{t:q(t)\ne 0\}$

Let's calculate derivative:

$$\frac {dh}{dx}=\underset{dx\rightarrow0}{\lim} \frac {(\int_A f(x+dx-t)g(t)dt-\int_A f(x-t)g(t)dt)}{dx}=\underset{dx\rightarrow0}{\lim}(\int_A \frac{(f(x+dx-t)-f(x-t))}{dx}g(t)dt)$$

If we assume that there exists some integrable function $q(t)$, such that for $t$ almost everywhere$$ \left| \frac{(f(x+dx-t)-f(x-t))}{dx} \right| < q(t), \forall dx>0 $$

I.e.$$ \mu\{t: \left| \frac{(f(x+dx-t)-f(x-t))}{dx} \right| \ge q(t)\}=0,\forall dx >0 $$

then by the Lebesgue dominated convergence theorem we can push the limit inside integral.

$$\frac {dh}{dx}=\frac{d}{dx}(f*g(x))=\int_A f'(x-t)g(t)dt=f'*g$$

Under assumption that: $\int_A q(t)dt$ is bounded above. One situation is when A is a compact set and $f,g$ are continuous function in the set A with a finite number of dicontinuities.

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Note that, if $ f\in L_1(R)$ then it is Fourier transformable. Since,

$$ \left|\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} f(x) e^{-ixw}\right| \leq \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} |f(x)| < \infty$$.

To prove that the convolution of two $L_{1}(R)$ functions is again an $L_{1}(R)$ function, let

$$ h(x) = \int f(t) g(x-t) dt $$

$$ \int |h(x)|dx \leq \int\int |f(t)| |g(x-t)| dt dx = \int |f(t)|\int |g(x-t)|dxdt = \int |f(t)| ||g||_1 dt = ||f||_1 ||g||_1 \Rightarrow h \in L_1(R)\,.$$

The change of the order of integration is justified by Fubini's theorem. So, you can use the Fourier technique as in Davide's answer.

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