On the representation by sums of algebras of continuous functions (Q2408531)

Let \( X\) be a compact Hausdorff space and let \(C(X)\) denote the space of real-valued continuous functions. For given closed subalgebras \(A_1,\dots, A_k\) containing the constant functions, this paper considers conditions under which \(C(X) = A_1+\dots+A_k\). The \(A_i\)'s induce a natural equivalence relation on \(X\) and let \(s_i\) be the natural projection map onto the corresponding quotient space. A finite subset \(I = \{x_1,\dots,x_n\} \subset X\) is said to be a cycle if there exist non-zero integers \(\lambda_1,\dots,\lambda_n\) such that \(\sum_{j=1}^n \lambda_j \delta_{s_i(x_j)} = 0\) for \(1 \leq i \leq k\). A semicycle is defined in terms of equality of all such simple measures. A necessary condition then is that there are no cycles in \(X\) and for any positive integer \(q\), the number of points in all \(q\)-semicycles is bounded.