Abstract: | Nash constructible functions on a real algebraic set V are defined as linear combinations, with integer coefficients, of Euler characteristic of fibres of proper regular morphisms restricted to connected components of algebraic sets. We prove that if V is compact, these functions are sums of signs of semialgebraic arc-analytic functions (i.e. functions which become analytic when composed with any analytic arc). We also give a sharp upper bound to the number of semialgebraic arc-analytic functions which are necessary to define any given Nash constructible functions. |