A characterization of Baire one functions of two variables (Q2642091)

The authors show that every real-valued Baire class one function \(f\) of two real variables is the pointwise limit of a sequence of continuous, piecewise linear functions, all of whose vertices lie on the graph of \(f\). Let \(f : [0,1]^{n} \rightarrow \mathbb R\) be an arbitrary function. A piecewise linear function \(L : [0,1]^{n} \rightarrow \mathbb R\) is called \(f\)-based if all the vertices of the graph of \(L\) lay on the graph of \(f\). Being the pointwise limit of continuous functions, it is an easy observation that every Baire class one function \(f : [0,1]^{n} \rightarrow \mathbb R\) is also the pointwise limit of piecewise linear functions. The authors show that every Baire class one function \(f : [0,1]^{2} \rightarrow \mathbb R\) can be obtained as the pointwise limit of piecewise linear \(f\)-based functions, as well. The analogous result for \(n=1\) was proved by \textit{S. J. Agronsky, J. G. Ceder} and \textit{T. L. Pearson} [Real Anal.\ Exch. 23, No.~2, 421--430 (1997; Zbl 0943.26004)] using methods not applicable in the \(n \geq 2\) case. For \(n \geq 3\) the problem remains open.