Cumulative Riemann sums, distribution functions, and a universal inequality
Classical Analysis and ODEs
2026-03-11 v1
Abstract
We study discrete expressions of the form where and . If is a decreasing integrable function, we have from which classical inequalities can be obtained, for instance for the choice . Although elementary, this inequality admits a natural interpretation in terms of Riemann sums, Abel summation, and the probability integral transform. The aim of this paper is to present a unified perspective emphasizing that the discrete inequality is a consequence of a distribution-free continuous identity. Beyond the specific example, we establish a general discrete theorem for monotone functions and discuss connections with majorization theory and Karamata's inequality.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2603.08959,
title = {Cumulative Riemann sums, distribution functions, and a universal inequality},
author = {Jean-Christophe Pain},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2603.08959},
year = {2026}
}