Continuous primitives with infinite derivatives

Abstract: In calculus the concept of an infinite derivative – i.e. DF(x) = ±∞ – is seldom studied due to a plethora of complications that arise from this definition. For instance, in this extended sense, algebraic expressions involving derivatives are generally undefined; and two continuous functions possessing identical derivatives at every point of an interval generally differ by a non-constant function. These problems are fundamentally irremediable insofar as calculus is concerned and must therefore be addressed in a more general setting. This is quite difficult since the literature on infinite derivatives is rather sparse and seldom accessible to non-specialists. Therefore we supply a self-contained thesis on continuous functions with infinite derivatives aimed at graduate students with a background in real analysis and measure theory.  Predominately we study continuous primitives which satisfy the Luzin condition (N) by establishing a deep connection with the strong Luzin condition – a weak form of absolute continuity which has its origins in the Henstock–Kurzweil theory of integration. The main result states that a function satisfies the strong Luzin condition if and only if it can be expressed as a sum of two such primitives. Furthermore, we establish some pathological properties of continuous primitives which fail to satisfy the Luzin condition (N).