A family of centered forms for rational functions (Q2365943)

A new family of centered forms \(F(\alpha,X)\) with a parameter \(\alpha\) is introduced for rational functions \(f\) in order to enclose the range of \(f\) on real compact intervals \(X\). Specializing \(\alpha\), the family contains the semi-centered form and the standard centered form. A way is indicated how to adjust \(\alpha\) such that \(F(\alpha,X)\) attains its minimal diameter. Introducing several parameters \(\alpha_ 0,\alpha_ 1,...,\alpha_{k-1}\) the function \(F(\alpha,X)\) can be generalized to a higher order centered form \(F_ k(\alpha_ 0,...,\alpha_{k-1},X)\). Properties of \(F(\alpha,X)\) and of \(F_ k(\alpha_ 0,...,\alpha_{k- 1},X)\) are derived and proved.