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13 May 2026 · 7 min read · updated 13 June 2026

Product Measures and Fubini's Theorem

Independence, convolution, and every change of variables on a plane rest on integrating a function of two variables and exchanging the order. We build the product sigma-algebra, prove every section of a measurable set is measurable, construct the product measure as the integral of a section measure, and prove the Tonelli theorem for nonnegative functions and the Fubini theorem for integrable ones. Sigma-finiteness is the hypothesis that makes the section-measure map measurable, the product measure unique, and the order of integration free to switch.

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  • The product sigma-algebra and sections
  • The product measure
  • Tonelli and Fubini

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  • The product sigma-algebra and sections1m
  • The product measure2m
  • Tonelli and Fubini3m

A function of two variables can be integrated against a product measure in one stroke, or one variable at a time in either order; that the three agree, under a single hypothesis, is the content of the Fubini and Tonelli theorems. The construction starts from the sigma-algebras and measures of the previous post and the Lebesgue integral built on them, and it is the tool that turns independence into a product and a convolution into a double integral [1]. Throughout, (X,A,μ)(X,\mathcal A,\mu)(X,A,μ) and (Y,B,ν)(Y,\mathcal B,\nu)(Y,B,ν) are sigma-finite, meaning each space is a countable union of sets of finite measure.

#The product sigma-algebra and sections

Definition1

The product sigma-algebra A⊗B\mathcal A\otimes\mathcal BA⊗B on X×YX\times YX×Y is the sigma-algebra generated by the measurable rectangles A×BA\times BA×B with A∈AA\in\mathcal AA∈A and B∈BB\in\mathcal BB∈B.

A set built from rectangles can be sliced. For E⊆X×YE\subseteq X\times YE⊆X×Y and x∈Xx\in Xx∈X, the section is Ex={y∈Y:(x,y)∈E}E_x=\{y\in Y:(x,y)\in E\}Ex​={y∈Y:(x,y)∈E}, and for a function fff on X×YX\times YX×Y the section fxf_xfx​ is y↦f(x,y)y\mapsto f(x,y)y↦f(x,y). Slicing preserves measurability, the property on which every later proof depends.

Proposition2

For every E∈A⊗BE\in\mathcal A\otimes\mathcal BE∈A⊗B and every xxx, the section ExE_xEx​ is in B\mathcal BB. For every A⊗B\mathcal A\otimes\mathcal BA⊗B-measurable fff, every section fxf_xfx​ is B\mathcal BB-measurable.

Proof

Let G\mathcal GG be the collection of EEE whose every section lies in B\mathcal BB. A rectangle has section (A×B)x=B(A\times B)_x=B(A×B)x​=B if x∈Ax\in Ax∈A and ∅\emptyset∅ otherwise, both in B\mathcal BB, so G\mathcal GG contains the rectangles. Sectioning commutes with set operations, (Ec)x=(Ex)c(E^c)_x=(E_x)^c(Ec)x​=(Ex​)c and (⋃nE(n))x=⋃nEx(n)(\bigcup_n E^{(n)})_x=\bigcup_n E^{(n)}_x(⋃n​E(n))x​=⋃n​Ex(n)​, so G\mathcal GG is a sigma-algebra. It contains the generating rectangles, hence all of A⊗B\mathcal A\otimes\mathcal BA⊗B. The function statement follows by slicing a preimage, (fx)−1(C)=(f−1(C))x(f_x)^{-1}(C)=(f^{-1}(C))_x(fx​)−1(C)=(f−1(C))x​, which is measurable for Borel CCC.

#The product measure

To assign a rectangle the area μ(A)ν(B)\mu(A)\nu(B)μ(A)ν(B) and extend, integrate the size of a section. First, x↦ν(Ex)x\mapsto\nu(E_x)x↦ν(Ex​) must be measurable.

Lemma3

For E∈A⊗BE\in\mathcal A\otimes\mathcal BE∈A⊗B the map x↦ν(Ex)x\mapsto\nu(E_x)x↦ν(Ex​) is A\mathcal AA-measurable, and symmetrically y↦μ(Ey)y\mapsto\mu(E^y)y↦μ(Ey) is B\mathcal BB-measurable.

Proof

Assume first ν(Y)<∞\nu(Y)<\inftyν(Y)<∞. Let D\mathcal DD be the class of EEE for which x↦ν(Ex)x\mapsto\nu(E_x)x↦ν(Ex​) is measurable. Rectangles lie in D\mathcal DD since ν((A×B)x)=ν(B)1A(x)\nu((A\times B)_x)=\nu(B)\mathbf 1_A(x)ν((A×B)x​)=ν(B)1A​(x). For disjoint E,F∈DE,F\in\mathcal DE,F∈D, additivity of ν\nuν on the disjoint sections gives ν((E∪F)x)=ν(Ex)+ν(Fx)\nu((E\cup F)_x)=\nu(E_x)+\nu(F_x)ν((E∪F)x​)=ν(Ex​)+ν(Fx​), a sum of measurable functions, so finite disjoint unions stay in D\mathcal DD, and the finite-measure case gives ν((Ec)x)=ν(Y)−ν(Ex)\nu((E^c)_x)=\nu(Y)-\nu(E_x)ν((Ec)x​)=ν(Y)−ν(Ex​), so D\mathcal DD is closed under complement. For an increasing sequence E(n)↑EE^{(n)}\uparrow EE(n)↑E the sections rise, and continuity of ν\nuν from below makes ν(Ex)=lim⁡nν(Ex(n))\nu(E_x)=\lim_n\nu(E^{(n)}_x)ν(Ex​)=limn​ν(Ex(n)​) a pointwise limit of measurable functions, so D\mathcal DD is closed under increasing limits. These properties make D\mathcal DD a Dynkin system, while the rectangles are closed under intersection, (A1×B1)∩(A2×B2)=(A1∩A2)×(B1∩B2)(A_1\times B_1)\cap(A_2\times B_2)=(A_1\cap A_2)\times (B_1\cap B_2)(A1​×B1​)∩(A2​×B2​)=(A1​∩A2​)×(B1​∩B2​), so they form a pi-system. Dynkin's pi-lambda theorem gives A⊗B⊆D\mathcal A\otimes\mathcal B\subseteq\mathcal DA⊗B⊆D. For general sigma-finite ν\nuν, write Y=⋃kYkY=\bigcup_k Y_kY=⋃k​Yk​ with ν(Yk)<∞\nu(Y_k)<\inftyν(Yk​)<∞ and YkY_kYk​ increasing, apply the finite case to each ν( ⋅∩Yk)\nu(\,\cdot\cap Y_k)ν(⋅∩Yk​), and let k→∞k\to\inftyk→∞ using continuity from below.

Theorem4

There is a unique measure μ⊗ν\mu\otimes\nuμ⊗ν on A⊗B\mathcal A\otimes\mathcal BA⊗B with (μ⊗ν)(A×B)=μ(A)ν(B)(\mu\otimes\nu)(A\times B) =\mu(A)\nu(B)(μ⊗ν)(A×B)=μ(A)ν(B) for all rectangles, given by

(μ⊗ν)(E)=∫Xν(Ex) dμ(x)=∫Yμ(Ey) dν(y).(1)(\mu\otimes\nu)(E)=\int_X\nu(E_x)\,d\mu(x)=\int_Y\mu(E^y)\,d\nu(y). \tag{1}(μ⊗ν)(E)=∫X​ν(Ex​)dμ(x)=∫Y​μ(Ey)dν(y).(1)
Proof

By Lemma 3 both integrals are defined. Set ρ(E)=∫Xν(Ex) dμ\rho(E)=\int_X\nu(E_x)\,d\muρ(E)=∫X​ν(Ex​)dμ. Then ρ(∅)=0\rho(\emptyset)=0ρ(∅)=0, and for disjoint E(n)E^{(n)}E(n) the sections are disjoint, so countable additivity of ν\nuν and the monotone convergence theorem give ρ(⋃nE(n))=∫X∑nν(Ex(n)) dμ=∑nρ(E(n))\rho(\bigcup_n E^{(n)})=\int_X\sum_n\nu(E^{(n)}_x)\,d\mu=\sum_n\rho(E^{(n)})ρ(⋃n​E(n))=∫X​∑n​ν(Ex(n)​)dμ=∑n​ρ(E(n)), so ρ\rhoρ is a measure. On a rectangle ρ(A×B)=∫Aν(B) dμ=μ(A)ν(B)\rho(A\times B)=\int_A\nu(B)\,d\mu=\mu(A)\nu(B)ρ(A×B)=∫A​ν(B)dμ=μ(A)ν(B). The symmetric integral defines a measure agreeing with ρ\rhoρ on rectangles, and the rectangles form an intersection-closed generating system on which both measures are sigma-finite, so by the uniqueness of measures on a generating system the two integrals coincide and define the unique product measure.

#Tonelli and Fubini

The product measure was built from sections of sets. Tonelli's theorem lifts the identity from indicators to all nonnegative measurable functions.

Theorem5

If f:X×Y→[0,∞]f:X\times Y\to[0,\infty]f:X×Y→[0,∞] is A⊗B\mathcal A\otimes\mathcal BA⊗B-measurable, then x↦∫Yfx dνx\mapsto\int_Y f_x\,d\nux↦∫Y​fx​dν is measurable and

∫X×Yf d(μ⊗ν)=∫X(∫Yf(x,y) dν(y))dμ(x)=∫Y(∫Xf(x,y) dμ(x))dν(y).(2)\int_{X\times Y}f\,d(\mu\otimes\nu)=\int_X\Big(\int_Y f(x,y)\,d\nu(y)\Big)d\mu(x) =\int_Y\Big(\int_X f(x,y)\,d\mu(x)\Big)d\nu(y). \tag{2}∫X×Y​fd(μ⊗ν)=∫X​(∫Y​f(x,y)dν(y))dμ(x)=∫Y​(∫X​f(x,y)dμ(x))dν(y).(2)
Proof

For f=1Ef=\mathbf 1_Ef=1E​ the inner integral is ν(Ex)\nu(E_x)ν(Ex​) and the identity is exactly Equation (1). Linearity extends it to nonnegative simple functions. A general nonnegative measurable fff is the increasing pointwise limit of simple functions sn↑fs_n\uparrow fsn​↑f, and the monotone convergence theorem applied twice, once in the inner integral and once in the outer, carries the identity through the limit, the measurability of x↦∫Yfx dνx\mapsto\int_Y f_x\,d\nux↦∫Y​fx​dν surviving as a limit of measurable functions. The same argument in the other order gives the second equality.

Tonelli requires only nonnegativity; with no negative part there is no ∞−∞\infty-\infty∞−∞ to resolve. For signed or complex functions the price is integrability, and the result is Fubini's theorem.

Theorem6

If fff is μ⊗ν\mu\otimes\nuμ⊗ν-integrable, then fxf_xfx​ is ν\nuν-integrable for μ\muμ-almost every xxx, the almost-everywhere-defined map x↦∫Yfx dνx\mapsto\int_Y f_x\,d\nux↦∫Y​fx​dν is μ\muμ-integrable, and both iterated integrals equal ∫X×Yf d(μ⊗ν)\int_{X\times Y}f\,d(\mu\otimes\nu)∫X×Y​fd(μ⊗ν).

Proof

Apply Theorem 5 to ∣f∣\abs f∣f∣, which is integrable, so ∫X(∫Y∣fx∣ dν)dμ=∫∣f∣ d(μ⊗ν)<∞\int_X\big(\int_Y\abs{f_x}\,d\nu \big)d\mu=\int\abs f\,d(\mu\otimes\nu)<\infty∫X​(∫Y​∣fx​∣dν)dμ=∫∣f∣d(μ⊗ν)<∞. A nonnegative function with finite integral is finite almost everywhere, so ∫Y∣fx∣ dν<∞\int_Y\abs{f_x}\,d\nu<\infty∫Y​∣fx​∣dν<∞ for μ\muμ-almost every xxx, that is fxf_xfx​ is integrable for almost every xxx. Split f=f+−f−f=f^+-f^-f=f+−f− into its nonnegative and nonpositive parts, each dominated by ∣f∣\abs f∣f∣ and so integrable. Tonelli applies to f+f^+f+ and f−f^-f− separately, and subtracting the two finite iterated integrals, legitimate because both are finite, gives the iterated integral of fff equal to ∫f+ d(μ⊗ν)−∫f− d(μ⊗ν)=∫f d(μ⊗ν)\int f^+\,d(\mu\otimes\nu)-\int f^-\,d(\mu\otimes\nu)=\int f\,d(\mu\otimes\nu)∫f+d(μ⊗ν)−∫f−d(μ⊗ν)=∫fd(μ⊗ν). The other order is identical. For complex fff apply this to Re⁡f\operatorname{Re}fRef and Im⁡f\operatorname{Im}fImf separately, each integrable since ∣Re⁡f∣,∣Im⁡f∣≤∣f∣\abs{\operatorname{Re}f},\abs{\operatorname{Im}f}\le\abs f∣Ref∣,∣Imf∣≤∣f∣, and recombine.

Both hypotheses are sharp. Without sigma-finiteness the two iterated integrals ∫Xν(Ex) dμ\int_X\nu(E_x)\,d\mu∫X​ν(Ex​)dμ and ∫Yμ(Ey) dν\int_Y\mu(E^y)\,d\nu∫Y​μ(Ey)dν can disagree, so no consistent product measure is determined by the section formula. Take X=Y=[0,1]X=Y=[0,1]X=Y=[0,1] Borel, μ\muμ Lebesgue, ν\nuν counting, and the diagonal E={(x,x)}∈A⊗BE=\{(x,x)\}\in\mathcal A\otimes\mathcal BE={(x,x)}∈A⊗B; then ∫Xν(Ex) dμ=1\int_X\nu(E_x)\,d\mu=1∫X​ν(Ex​)dμ=1 while ∫Yμ(Ey) dν=0\int_Y\mu(E^y)\,d\nu=0∫Y​μ(Ey)dν=0. Without integrability the kernel f(x,y)=(x2−y2)/(x2+y2)2f(x,y)=(x^2-y^2)/(x^2+y^2)^2f(x,y)=(x2−y2)/(x2+y2)2 on the unit square, for which ∫∣f∣=∞\int\abs f=\infty∫∣f∣=∞, has ∫01 ⁣∫01f dy dx=π4\int_0^1\!\int_0^1 f\,dy\,dx=\tfrac\pi4∫01​∫01​fdydx=4π​ and ∫01 ⁣∫01f dx dy=−π4\int_0^1\!\int_0^1 f\,dx\,dy=-\tfrac\pi4∫01​∫01​fdxdy=−4π​. The first inner integral comes from ∂y[y/(x2+y2)]=f\partial_y[y/(x^2+y^2)]=f∂y​[y/(x2+y2)]=f, giving ∫01f dy=1/(1+x2)\int_0^1 f\,dy=1/(1+x^2)∫01​fdy=1/(1+x2) for every x≠0x\neq 0x=0 (the single point x=0x=0x=0 is μ\muμ-null and does not affect the outer integral), and the second from the antisymmetry f(x,y)=−f(y,x)f(x,y)=-f(y,x)f(x,y)=−f(y,x), giving ∫01f dx=−1/(1+y2)\int_0^1 f\,dx=-1/(1+y^2)∫01​fdx=−1/(1+y2). The working rule is therefore Tonelli first, to check ∫∣f∣<∞\int\abs f<\infty∫∣f∣<∞ by an iterated integral of the nonnegative ∣f∣\abs f∣f∣, then Fubini, to exchange the order for fff itself.

The theorem is the engine behind several later constructions. The independence of random variables is exactly the statement that their joint law is the product of their marginals, so an expectation of a product factors by Tonelli. The convolution that smooths a density and the Gaussian integral that normalises it are double integrals evaluated by switching order. Product measure is the model for independent sources of randomness, and every multivariate argument later in the curriculum builds on it.

[1]
G. B. Folland, Real Analysis: Modern Techniques and Their Applications, 2nd ed. Wiley, 1999.

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cite
@misc{product-measures-and-fubini,
  author = {Zac Kienzle},
  title  = {Product Measures and Fubini's Theorem},
  year   = {2026},
  month  = {05},
  url    = {https://zackienzle.com/blog/product-measures-and-fubini}
}