Uniform approximation by generalized splines with free knots (Q910986)

The purpose of the paper is to study the best approximation by classes of generalized splines with free knots. The main results concern segment approximation and approximation by continuously composed Chebyshev systems. For these spaces the usual best approximation (in the uniform norm) existence, uniqueness and characterization are treated. The authors use the presented methods to give an improved necessary condition for approximation by polynomial splines with free knots.