More about signatures and approximation

Consider a non-singular real algebraic varietyM together with a codimension 1 real algebraic setY M. SupposeY=^–1(0) for a smooth function :M and denote by the signature induced by onM–Y. The following results are proved.For compactM, is induced by a regular functionf R(M) if and only if the setY ^c, where changes sign, is the union of the (d–1)-dimensional parts of some irreducible components ofY if and only if can be approximated by regular functions with the same zero-set. For non-compactM this is true only ifR(M) is a factorial ring. Similar results are proved whenM andY are real analytic instead of algebraic.Dedicated to the memory of our friend Mario RaimondoThe authors are members of GNSAGA of CNR. This work is partially supported by MURST.