Equivalence among various derivatives and subdifferentials of the distance function. (Q1399862)

Let \(X\) be a normed linear space with uniformly Gâteaux differentiable norm and \(C\) a nonempty closed subset of \(X\). The authors study differentiability properties of the distance function \(d_C\) associated with \(C\). For example, it is shown that \(d_C\) is strictly differentiable at \(x\in X\setminus C\) if and only if \(d_C\) is regular at \(x\) in the sense of F. H. Clarke. Further equivalent conditions are established involving various subdifferentials. Moreover, if \(X\) is a Hilbert space, then the Fréchet differentiability of \(d_C\) is characterized, among others, in terms of the metric projection \(P_C\) of \(C\). The results are based on and complement those obtained earlier by \textit{J. M. Borwein}, \textit{S. P. Fitzpatrick} and \textit{J. R. Giles} [J. Math. Anal. Appl. 128, 512--534 (1987; Zbl 0644.46032)], \textit{F. H. Clarke}, \textit{R. J. Stern} and \textit{P. R. Wolenski} [J. Convex Anal. 2, No. 1--2, 117--144 (1995; Zbl 0881.49008)], \textit{S. Fitzpatrick} [Bull. Aust. Math. Soc. 22, 291--312 (1980; Zbl 0437.46012)], and others.