Extending piecewise polynomial functions in two variables (Q355221)

A continuous function \(f: A\to\mathbb{R}\), where \(A\subseteq\mathbb{R}^n\) is an arbitrary subset, is piecewise polynomial (abbreviated pwp) if there are finitely many polynomials \(p_1,\dots, p_k\in \mathbb{R}[X_1,\dots, X_n]\) such that the graph of \(f\) is contained in in the union of the graphs of the polynomial functions. The set \(A\) has the extension property if every pwp function \(f: A\to\mathbb{R}\) can be extended to a pwp function \(F: \mathbb{R}^n\to\mathbb{R}\). The authors consider subsets \(A\subseteq\mathbb{R}^2\) that are definable in an \(o\)-minimal expansion \({\mathcal M}\) of \(\mathbb{R}\). They introduce the notion of a locally quasi-convex set and illustrate it with various examples. Supposing that \(A\subseteq\mathbb{R}^2\) is a definable and compact set, they show \(A\) has the extension property if and only if \(A\) is locally quasi-convex. The same criterion holds for definable and closed sets, provided the \(o\)-minimal expansion \({\mathcal M}\) satisfies a condition about the Hardy field of univariate definable germs at infinity.