Convex structures induced by Chebyshev systems (Q1677999)

Recent developments have clarified that some tools of convex geometry are closely related to separation theorems obtained in the field of functional inequalities. This phenomenon has motivated the authors for the investigation of convex structures induced by Chebyshev systems. Their main aim is to characterize such a possible structure, completely describing its combinatorial invariants. Let \(H\) be a subset of the reals of at least \(n\) elements, and \(\omega_{1}, \ldots, \omega_{n}: H \to \mathbb{R}\) be given functions. We say that \(\mathbf{\omega} := \left(\omega_{1}, \ldots, \omega_{n}\right)\) is a (positive) Chebyshev system over \(H\) , if for all elements \(x_{1}< \cdots < x_{n}\) of \(H\), the following inequality holds \[ \det \begin{pmatrix} \omega_{1}(x_{1}) &\ldots&\omega_{1}(x_{n})\\ \vdots & \ddots & \vdots \\ \omega_{n}(x_{1}) &\ldots&\omega_{n}(x_{n}) \end{pmatrix} >0. \] The pair \((X, \mathscr{C})\) is called a convex structure (or a convexity space) if \(\mathscr{C} \subset \mathscr{P}(X)\) contains \(\emptyset\) and \(X\), and is closed under intersection and nested union. If \(A\) is a subset of \(X\), then the smallest set \(\mathrm{conv}(A)\) belonging to \(C\) and including \(A\) is called the convex hull of \(A\). The Carathéodory-number of a convex structure is \(C\) provided any point of the convex hull of an arbitrary set can be represented as the convex combination of at most \(C\) elements of the set, and \(C\) is minimal possessing this property. The Radon-number of a convex structure is \(R\) if for all set with at least \(R\) elements there is a partition with intersecting convex hulls, and \(R\) is minimal possessing this property. If such natural number does not exist, \(R\) is infinite by definition. The Helly-number of a convex structure is \(H\) if all finite collection of convex sets with intersecting \(H\)-member subcollections has nonempty intersection, and \(H\) is minimal possessing this property. In lack of such a natural number we use the convention that \(H\) is infinite. Concerning these notions the authors prove (among others) the following statements. {\parindent=0.7cm\begin{itemize}\item[1.] If \(H\) is a real subset of at least \(2\) elements, \(\mathbf{\omega} : H \to \mathbb{R}^{2}\) is a Chebyshev system, then the Carathéodory-, Radon-, and Helly-numbers of the induced \(\mathbf{\omega}\)-convex structure are \(3, 4, 3\). \item[2.] If \(H\) is a real subset of at least \(n \geq 3\) elements, \(\mathbf{\omega} : H \to \mathbb{R}^{n}\) is a Chebyshev system, then any finite subset of \(H \times \mathbb{R}\) possessing pairwise distinct first projections is \(\mathbf{\omega}\)-convex. Moreover, a subset of \(H \times \mathbb{R}\) is \(\mathbf{\omega}\)-convex if and only if it is vertically connected.\item[3.] If \(H\) is an infinite real subset, \(n \geq 3\) and \(\mathbf{\omega} : H \to \mathbb{R}^{n}\) is a Chebyshev system, then the Carathéodory-, Radon-, and Helly-numbers of the induced \(\mathbf{\omega}\)-convex structure are \(2, +\infty, +\infty\). \end{itemize}}