Linear subdivision is strictly a polynomial phenomenon (Q1072726)

Given a collection of control points \(P=(P_ 0,...,P_ M)\) and a collection of continuous blending functions \(B(t)=(B_ 0(t),...,B_ N(t)),\) we can define a continuous parametric curve B[P](t) by setting \(B[P](t)=\sum_{k}B_ k(t)P_ k,\) \(0\leq t\leq 1\). Assume that the blending functions satisfy the following two conditions: \((i)\quad \sum_{k}B_ k(t)=1,\) \(0\leq t\leq 1\), \((ii)\quad B_ k(t),\quad k=0,...,N,\) are linearly independent. Now such a curve is said to permit linear subdivision if and only if for each parameter pair \((u_ 0,u_ 1)\) there exist control points \(P(u_ 0,u_ 1)=(P_ 0(u_ 0,u_ 1),...,P_ n(u_ 0,u_ 1))\) such that \(B[P(u_ 0,u_ 1)](t)=B[P][(1- t)u_ 0+tu_ 1].\) In this paper the authors give an elementary proof that polynomial curves are the only differentiable curves which permit subdivision by simple linear techniques. Subdivision methods for rational polynomial curves are also discussed.