Smooth partitions of unity and approximating norms in Banach spaces (Q1912640)

Let \(X\) be a real Banach space. Recall that \(X\) admits \(C^k\)-smooth partitions of unity if for every open covering \(\{V_\beta\}_{\beta\in B}\) of \(X\) there exists a locally finite \(C^k\)-smooth partition of unity \(\{\phi_\alpha\}_{\alpha\in A}\) such that, for each \(\alpha\in A\) the closure of \(\{x\in X:\phi_\alpha\neq 0\}\) is contained in \(V_\beta\) for some \(\beta\in B\). Here the differentiability is in the Fréchet sense. \textit{H. Toruńczyk} [Stud. Math. 46, 43-51 (1973; Zbl 0251.46022)] has proved that a (non-separable) reflexive Banach space having a \(C^k\)-smooth locally uniformly rotund norm admits \(C^h\)-smooth partitions of unity. The main result of the author: Suppose a weakly locally uniformly convex norm on a Banach space \(X\) can be uniformly approximated on bounded sets by equivalent \(C^{k+1}\)-smooth norms, where \(k\in N\cup\{\infty\}\). Then \(X\) admits \(C^k\)-smooth partitions of unity.