On geometric interpolation of parametric surfaces (Q2576043)

The conjecture that for plane curves it is possible to construct interpolation schemes of degree \(n\) with approximation order \(2n\) has been verified for the cases \(n=2 ,3\) under certain conditions on locations of points of interpolation. For a result concerning curves in space of dimension \(d\) reference may be made to the paper of \textit{K. Mørken} and \textit{K. Scherer} [Math. Comput. 66, 237--260 (1997; Zbl 0854.41001)]. In the present paper it is shown that in the neighbourhood of a point where the Gaussian curvature of a surface \(f\) is nonzero it is possible to construct a parametric quadratic surface that approximates \(f\) with approximation order four.