Comonotone approximation and interpolation by entire functions (Q2325956)

The author examines variations of a theorem of \textit{L. Hoischen} [J. Approx. Theory 15, 116--123 (1975; Zbl 0318.30034)] in which the functions to be approximated are piecewise monotone, and the approximating entire functions (which are automatically piecewise monotone) are comonotone with the functions to be approximated, i.e., increasing and decreasing on the same intervals. The research is based on the results of the author obtained earlier [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 361, No. 6, 2871--2911 (2009; Zbl 1165.03034); J. Math. Anal. Appl. 350, No. 2, 845--858 (2009; Zbl 1155.41005)]. The paper is structured as follows. First, some elementary properties of piecewise monotonic functions are established. Then, approximations of functions that do not have flat points are considered. (Flat points are points where the function and all derivatives are equal to zero.) In this setting, a theorem is obtained on simultaneous comonotonic approximation of \(n-1\) derivatives of a \(C^n\) function. Also it is shown how to incorporate into this theorem the ability to control the values of the derivatives on a countable set of points disjoint from the interpolation set. The author obtains an extension of the theorem of Hoischen to functions which on each subinterval \(J\) of a partition of \(\mathbb{R}\) are \(C^n\) for some \(n=n_J\) which depends on \(J\), with agreement of the derivatives at the common endpoint of two adjacent intervals. This result can be viewed as a simultaneous generalization of parts (A) and (B) of Hoischen's theorem. Further, it is explained how to approximate a monotone function in a one-sided neighborhood of a flat point so that the point is no longer flat for the approximating function. Also the author proves a theorem which provides comonotone approximation with interpolation of a piecewise monotone \(C^n\) function, where \(n\) is a nonnegative integer or \(\infty\).