Approximation by functions having restricted ranges. III (Q2531697)

Let \(X\) be a compact subset of \([a,b]\) containing at least \(n+1\) points. Let \(M\) be an \(n\)-dimensional Haar subspace of \(C[a,b]\) and let \(\ell\) and \(u\) be two real valued functions defined on \(X\) satisfying \(\ell<u\) and some other restrictions. Define \[ \widetilde M= \{p\in M: \ell(x)\le p(x)\le u(x)\quad \text{for all }x\in X\}. \] The problem of approximating \(C(X)\) by \(\widetilde M\) is studied in this paper. For a certain subclass of \(C(X)\), an alternation theory, theorems of uniqueness and strong uniqueness, continuity of the best restricted approximation operator and others are developed. These results are used to give a complete treatment to the problem of finding the best \(\varepsilon\)-interpolator to a given function in \(C(X)\). For Parts I and II, see the author, SIAM J. Numer. Anal. 5, 258--268 (1968; Zbl 0254.65007); \textit{L. L. Schumaker} and the author, SIAM J. Numer. Anal. 6, 31--36 (1969; Zbl 0175.16002)].