A Choquet-Deny-Type Theorem and Applications to Approximation in Weighted Spaces

We present a Choquet-Deny-type theorem in weighted spaces together with an application to simultaneous approximation and interpolation from inf-lattices generated by convex sets. Moreover, we determine a characterization of the Korovkin closure of vector lattices and, as a consequence, a different proof of the Stone-Weierstrass theorem for some weighted spaces.     

On orders of approximation of plane curves by parametric cubic splines

The aim of the present paper is to show that the convergence rate of the parametric cubic spline approximation of a plane curve is of order four instead of order three. For the first and second derivatives, the rates are of order three and two, respectively. Finally some numerical examples are given to illustrate the predicted error behaviour.     

Polynomial interpolation of minimal degree

Summary. Minimal degree interpolation spaces with respect to a finite set of points are subspaces of multivariate polynomials of least possible degree for which Lagrange interpolation with respect to the given points is uniquely solvable and degree reducing. This is a generalization of the concept of least interpolation introduced by de Boor and Ron. This paper investigates the behavior of Lagrange interpolation with respect to these spaces, giving a Newton interpolation method and a remainder formula for the error of interpolation. Moreover, a special minimal degree interpolation space will be introduced which is particularly beneficial from the numerical point of view. Received June 9, 1995 / Revised version received June 26, 1996     

Bivariate spline interpolation at grid points

Summary. We describe algorithms for constructing point sets at which interpolation by spaces of bivariate splines of arbitrary degree and smoothness is possible. The splines are defined on rectangular partitions adding one or two diagonals to each rectangle. The interpolation sets are selected in such a way that the grid points of the partition are contained in these sets, and no large linear systems have to be solved. Our method is to generate a net of line segments and to choose point sets in these segments which satisfy the Schoenberg-Whitney condition for certain univariate spline spaces such that a principle of degree reduction can be applied. In order to include the grid points in the interpolation sets, we give a sufficient Schoenberg-Whitney type condition for interpolation by bivariate splines supported in certain cones. This approach is completely different from the known interpolation methods for bivariate splines of degree at most three. Our method is illustrated by some numerical examples. Received October 5, 1992 / Revised version received May 13, 1994     

Linear problems (with extended range) have linear optimal algorithms

LetF ₁ andF ₂ be normed linear spaces andS:F ₀ F ₂ a linear operator on a balanced subsetF ₀ ofF ₁. IfN denotes a finite dimensional linear information operator onF ₀, it is known that there need not be alinear algorithm:N(F ₄) F ₂ which is optimal in the sense that (N(f)) –S(f is minimized. We show that the linear problem defined byS andN can be regarded as having a linear optimal algorithm if we allow the range of to be extended in a natural way. The result depends upon imbeddingF ₂ isometrically in the space of continuous functions on a compact Hausdorff spaceX. This is done by making use of a consequence of the classical Banach-Alaoglu theorem.     

Norm-one projections onto subspaces of finite codimension in ℓ1 andc 0

We study 1-complemented subspaces of the sequence spaces ₁ andc ₀. In ₁, 1-complemented subspaces of codimensionn are those which can be obtained as intersection ofn 1-complemented hyperplanes. Inc ₀, we prove a characterization of 1-complemented subspaces of finite codimension in terms of intersection of hyperplanes.Work prepared under the auspices of GNAFA-CNR (National Council of Research) and Minister of Public Instruction of Italy.     

On the stability of quasidouble step spline approximations for solutions ofy (n) = f(x,y, ⋯, y (n−1) )

In this paper, we continue the study [4] of the stability question of the quasidouble step spline function approximations,s(x) C ^m–2 , to the initial value problemy ⁽ⁿ⁾ = f(x, y, , y ^(n–1) ). It will be shown that the method is unstable and hence divergent form n + 4.     

Remarks on a unified theory for classical and generalized interpolation and extrapolation

A unified theory for generalized interpolation, as developed by Mühlbach, and classical polynomial interpolation is discussed. A fundamental theorem for generalized linear iterative interpolation is given and used to derive generalizations of the classical formulae due to Neville, Aitken and Lagrange. Using Mühlbach's definition of generalized divided differences, Newton's generalized interpolation formula, including an expression for the error term, is derived as a pure identity.     

Convergence and computation of simultaneous rational quadrature formulas

We discuss the convergence and numerical evaluation of simultaneous quadrature formulas which are exact for rational functions. The problem consists in integrating a single function with respect to different measures using a common set of quadrature nodes. Given a multi-index n, the nodes of the integration rule are the zeros of the multi-orthogonal Hermite–Padé polynomial with respect to (S, α, n), where S is a collection of measures, and α is a polynomial which modifies the measures in S. The theory is based on the connection between Gauss-type simultaneous quadrature formulas of rational type and multipoint Hermite–Padé approximation. The numerical treatment relies on the technique of modifying the integrand by means of a change of variable when it has real poles close to the integration interval. The output of some tests show the power of this approach in comparison with other ones in use.     

Pseudospectra of Matrix Polynomials that Are Expressed in Alternative Bases

Spectra and pseudospectra of matrix polynomials are of interest in geometric intersection problems, vibration problems, and analysis of dynamical systems. In this note we consider the effect of the choice of polynomial basis on the pseudospectrum and on the conditioning of the spectrum of regular matrix polynomials. In particular, we consider the direct use of the Lagrange basis on distinct interpolation nodes, and give a geometric characterization of “good” nodes. We also give some tools for computation of roots at infinity via a new, natural, reversal. The principal achievement of the paper is to connect pseudospectra to the well-established theory of Lebesgue functions and Lebesgue constants, by separating the influence of the scalar basis from the natural scale of the matrix polynomial, which allows many results from interpolation theory to be applied. This work was partially funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and by the MITACS Network of Centres of Excellence.     

Barycentric formulae for cardinal (SINC-)interpolants

Summary We present a barycentric representation of cardinal interpolants, as well as a weighted barycentric formula for their efficient evaluation. We also propose a rational cardinal function which in some cases agrees with the corresponding cardinal interpolant and, in other cases, is even more accurate.In numerical examples, we compare the relative accuracy of those various interpolants with one another and with a rational interpolant proposed in former work.Dedicated to the memory of Peter HenriciThis work was done at the University of California at San Diego, La Jolla     

Nyström method for Cauchy singular integral equations with negative index

In this paper, the authors propose a Nyström method to approximate the solutions of Cauchy singular integral equations with constant coefficients having a negative index. They consider the equations in spaces of continuous functions with weighted uniform norm. They prove the stability and the convergence of the method and show some numerical tests that confirm the error estimates.     

On a direct method for the solution of nearly uncoupled Markov chains

Summary This note is concerned with the accuracy of the solution of nearly uncoupled Markov chains by a direct method based on the LU decomposition. It is shown that plain Gaussian elimination may fail in the presence of rounding errors. A modification of Gaussian elimination with diagonal pivoting and correction of small pivots is proposed and analyzed. It is shown that the accuracy of the solution is affected by two condition numbers associated with aggregation and the coupling respectively.This work was supported in part by the Air Force Office of Sponsored Research under Contract AFOSR-87-0188     

Some extremal properties of orthogonal polynomials

Using a particular way of normalizing the orthogonal polynomials, which is most commonly encountered in the synthesis of filtering networks in communication and electronic engineering, two theorems concerning the extremal properties of orthogonal polynomials are first proved. The results are then applied to find the minimum value and the minimizing function for various definite integrals involving weight functions of classical orthogonal polynomials.     

On the Carathéodory–Fejér Interpolation Problem for Generalized Schur Functions

The solutions of the Carathéodory–Fejér interpolation problem for generalized Schur functions can be parametrized via a linear fractional transformation over the class of classical Schur functions. The linear fractional transformation of some of these functions may have a pole (simple or multiple) in one or more of the interpolation points or not satisfy one or more interpolation conditions, hence not all Schur functions can serve as a parameter. The set of excluded parameters is characterized in terms of the related Pick matrix.Research was supported by the Summer Research Grant from the College of William and MarySubmitted: June 26, 2002 Revised: January 31, 2003     

Integration and approximation in arbitrary dimensions

We study multivariate integration and approximation for various classes of functions of d variables with arbitrary d. We consider algorithms that use function evaluations as the information about the function. We are mainly interested in verifying when integration and approximation are tractable and strongly tractable. Tractability means that the minimal number of function evaluations needed to reduce the initial error by a factor of ɛ is bounded by C(d)ɛ^−p for some exponent p independent of d and some function C(d). Strong tractability means that C(d) can be made independent of d. The ‐exponents of tractability and strong tractability are defined as the smallest powers of ɛ{^-1} in these bounds. We prove that integration is strongly tractable for some weighted Korobov and Sobolev spaces as well as for the Hilbert space whose reproducing kernel corresponds to the covariance function of the isotropic Wiener measure. We obtain bounds on the ‐exponents, and for some cases we find their exact values. For some weighted Korobov and Sobolev spaces, the strong ‐exponent is the same as the ‐exponent for d=1, whereas for the third space it is 2. For approximation we also consider algorithms that use general evaluations given by arbitrary continuous linear functionals as the information about the function. Our main result is that the ‐exponents are the same for general and function evaluations. This holds under the assumption that the orthonormal eigenfunctions of the covariance operator have uniformly bounded L∞ norms. This assumption holds for spaces with shift-invariant kernels. Examples of such spaces include weighted Korobov spaces. For a space with non‐shift‐invariant kernel, we construct the corresponding space with shift-invariant kernel and show that integration and approximation for the non-shift-invariant kernel are no harder than the corresponding problems with the shift-invariant kernel. If we apply this construction to a weighted Sobolev space, whose kernel is non-shift-invariant, then we obtain the corresponding Korobov space. This enables us to derive the results for weighted Sobolev spaces. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

On Lagrange and Hermite interpolation in R k

Summary A method for the construction of a set of data of interpolation in several variables is given. The resulting data, which are either function values or directional derivatives values, give rise to a space of polynomials, in such a way that unisolvence is guaranteed. The interpolating polynomial is calculated using a procedure which generalizes the Newton divided differences formula for a single variable.     

Improving order and efficiency: Composition with a modified Newton’s method

In this paper a zero-finding technique for solving nonlinear equations more efficiently than they usually are with traditional iterative methods in which the order of convergence is improved is presented. The key idea in deriving this procedure is to compose a given iterative method with a modified Newton’s method that introduces just one evaluation of the function. To carry out this procedure some classical methods with different orders of convergence are used to obtain new methods that can be generalized in Banach spaces.     

Constrained approximation by splines with free knots

In this paper, a method that combines shape preservation and least squares approximation by splines with free knots is developed. Besides the coefficients of the spline a subset of the knot sequence, the so-calledfree knots, is included in the optimization process resulting in a nonlinear least squares problem in both the coefficients and the knots. The original problem, a special case of aconstrained semi-linear least squares problem, is reduced to a problem that has only the knots of the spline as variables. The reduced problem is solved by a generalized Gauss-Newton method. Special emphasise is given to the efficient computation of the residual function and its Jacobian. Dedicated to our colleague and teacher Prof. Dr. J. W. Schmidt on the occasion of his 65th birthday Research of the first author was supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft under grant Schm 968/2-1,2-2.     

The Square of Opposition and the Paradoxes

Can an appeal to the difference between contrary and contradictory statements, generated by a non-uniform behaviour of negation, deal adequately with paradoxical cases like the sorites or the liar? This paper offers a negative answer to the question. This is done by considering alternative ways of trying to construe and justify in a useful way (in this context) the distinction between contraries and contradictories by appealing to the behaviour of negation only. There are mainly two ways to try to do so: i) by considering differences in the scope of negation, ii) by considering the possibility that negation is semantically ambiguous. Both alternatives are shown to be inapt to handle the problematic cases. In each case, it is shown that the available alternatives for motivating or grounding the distinction, in a way useful to deal with the paradoxes, are either inapplicable, or produce new versions of the paradoxes, or both. Work supported by SFRH/BPD/16678/2004 (FCT), project “On Content” POCI/FIL/55562/2004 (FCT) and project “LOGOS grupo de logica, lenguage y cognicion” HUM 2006-08236 (MEC).