No label defined (Q4952573)

The authors give a simple proof of a known theorem used in function theory. A polygonal line in the \(xy\)-plane homeomorphic to a segment or a circle is called lightning if it consists of finitely many alternating horizontal and vertical segments. If \(l\) is closed, denote by \(U(l)\) the open polygon bounded by \(l\). For a lightning \(l\), denote by \(h(l)\) the sum of lengths of its horizontal segments and by \(v(l)\) that of its vertical ones. Theorem. Let \(X\) and \(Y\) be distinct points on a closed lightning \(l\), and let \(l_1,l_2\) be the two lightnings into which \(X\) and \(Y\) split \(l\). Then there exists a lightning \(l_3\) with the ends \(X\) and \(Y\) such that \(l_3\subset \overline {U(l)}\) and the length of \(l_3\) is \(\leq h(l_1)+ v(l_2)\). The proof is based on a lemma for which the authors have to define some other concepts such as protuberance, its lateral sides and its cutting segment. In the definition of the cutting segment, the words ``smaller lateral side'' are supposed to mean lateral side of smaller or equal length. For the entire collection see [Zbl 0919.00012].