The algebra of continuous piecewise polynomials (Q915792)

Let \(\Delta\) be a triangulated d-dimensional complex contained in \({\mathbb{R}}^ d\) and \(C^ 0(\Delta)\) be the algebra of all continuous piecewise polynomial functions on \(\Delta\). If \(v_ 1,v_ 2,...,v_ n\) are the vertices of \(\Delta\), then the unique piecewise linear functions \(X_ 1,X_ 2,...,X_ n\) defined on \(\Delta\) by \(X_ i(v_ j)=\delta_{ij}\) are called Courant functions. It is shown that \(C^ 0(\Delta)\) is generated as an \({\mathbb{R}}\)-algebra by the Courant functions. For a simplicial complex \(\Delta\) with vertices \(v_ 1,...,v_ n\) the face ring of \(\Delta\) is defined as \(A={\mathbb{R}}[X_ 1,...,X_ n]/I_ d\) where \(I_ d\) is the ideal generated by square free monomials not supported by the faces of \(\Delta\). It is shown that \(C^ 0(\Delta)\) is isomorphic as an \({\mathbb{R}}\)-algebra to a suitable quotient of \(A_{\Delta}\). For any pure d-dimensional complex \(\Delta\), \(C^ 0(\Delta)\) is generated as an R-module by the piecewise polynomial functions \(M^ i_ j\) which are certain monomials [see \textit{B. Kind} and \textit{P. Kleinschmidt}, Math. Z. 167, 173-179 (1979; Zbl 0388.13015)].