Best Approximation and Perturbation Property in Hilbert Spaces

We study the perturbation property of best approximation to a set defined by an abstract nonlinear constraint system. We show that, at a normal point, the perturbation property of best approximation is equivalent to an equality expressed in terms of normal cones. This equality is related to the strong conical hull intersection property. Our results generalize many known results in the literature on perturbation property of best approximation established for a set defined by a finite system of linear/nonlinear inequalities. The connection to minimization problem is considered.The authors thank the referees for valuable suggestions.K.F. Ng - This author was partially supported by Grant A0324638 from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Grants (2001) 01GY051-66 and SZD0406 from Sichuan Province. Y.R. He -This author was supported by a Direct Grant (CUHK) and an Earmarked Grant from the Research Grant Council of Hong Kong.