2026/27 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

MATH3140 Metric Spaces and Measure Theory

20 Credits Class Size: 150

Module manager: Kasia Wyczesany
Email: k.b.wyczesany@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2026/27

Pre-requisite qualifications

MATH2150 Calculus, Curves and Complex Analysis

Pre-requisites

MATH2150 Calculus, Curves and Complex Analysis

Module replaces

MATH3211 Metric and Function Spaces

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

If you would like to undertake a rigorous study of a physical, geometrical, or statistical law, you will likely need both metrics and measures. Metric spaces are equipped with a generalised notion of distance between points, which is essential in modern analysis, while measure theory generalises familiar ideas of volume and underpins modern integration. In this module, we’ll explore these beautiful topics and prove results fundamental to pure and applied mathematics, including Picard–Lindelöf’s theorem from ODEs, the inverse and implicit function theorems, and Lebesgue’s dominated convergence theorem.

Objectives

This module introduces students to the abstract study of spaces equipped with a notion of distance and the rigorous foundations of integration. Students will investigate the structure and properties of metric spaces—such as convergence, continuity, and compactness—and examine how these ideas support key analytical results, including Picard–Lindelöf’s theorem. They will also study the foundations of measure theory, exploring measurability, measurable functions, and integration, culminating in major results like Lebesgue’s dominated convergence theorem.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes: 1. Accurately identify examples and non-examples of metric spaces and measure spaces. 2. Write proofs of statements relating to metric and measure spaces. 3. Recall appropriate fundamental results covered in the course and apply them to solve equations and mathematical problems. 4. Appraise and explain the impact of the main theorems to the wider mathematical community.

Syllabus

1. Metric spaces: definition and examples, inducing metrics from norms and inner products 2. Sequences in metric spaces: convergence, Cauchy sequences 3. Topology of metric spaces: open and closed sets, compactness and completeness 4. Continuous functions on metric spaces 5. Banach fixed-point theorem and application to ODEs 6. Measure Spaces 7. The Lebesgue measure and its properties 8. Measurable and non-measurable functions, properties of Lp spaces Additional topics that build on these may be covered as time allows. Such topics may be drawn from the following, or similar: · Further topics on normed spaces and dual spaces · Fourier transform · Banach spaces and linear functionals · Banach-Mazur distance: distance between lp and lq

Teaching Methods

Delivery type Number Length hours Student hours
Lecture 44 1 44
Private study hours 156
Total Contact hours 44
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) 200

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

There will be homework, with some problems marked for feedback only.

Reading List

Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list

Last updated: 12/05/2026

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team