Multi-segmental representations and approximation of set-valued functions with 1D images (Q2389526)

The paper is devoted to the investigation of the continuous set-valued functions (SVF) of bounded variation (CBV multifunction). It is observed that in the class \({\mathcal F}\) of CBV multifunctions with finite number of ``holes'' in their graph any SVF can be represented as a union of a finite number of segment functions. Such representation is called ``multi-segmental'' (MSR). In the paper, the existence of specific MSR (called ``topological'') is proved. The conditions on a multi-function in \({\mathcal F}\) are derived which guarantee the uniqueness of a topological MSR with minimal number of segmental functions. The above results are applied at the study of specific positive approximation operators.