A new bound for smooth spline spaces (Q2233679)

Summary: For a planar simplicial complex \(\Delta \subseteq \mathbb{R}^2\), \textit{L. L. Schumaker} proves in [Conf. math. Res. Inst. Oberwolfach 1979, ISNM Vol. 51, 396--412 (1979; Zbl 0461.41006)] that a lower bound on the dimension of the space \(C^r_k (\Delta)\) of planar splines of smoothness \(r\) and degree \(k\) on \(\Delta\) is given by a polynomial \(P_{\Delta} (r,k)\), and \textit{P. Alfeld} and \textit{L. L. Schumaker} show in [Numer. Math. 57, No. 6--7, 651--661 (1990; Zbl 0725.41012)] that \(P_{\Delta} (r,k)\) gives the correct dimension when \(k \geq 4r+1\). Examples due to Morgan-Scott, Tohaneanu, and Yuan show that the equality \(\mathrm{dim}\, C^r_k (\Delta)=P_{\Delta} (r,k)\) can fail for \(k \in \{ 2r, 2r+1\}\). In this note we prove that the equality \(\mathrm{dim}\, C^r_k (\Delta)=P_{\Delta} (r,k)\) cannot hold in general for \(k \leq (22r+7)/10\).