extending strongnstrong-convexfunctions - technion.pdfVIP

STUDIAMATHEMATICA171(2)(2005) Extendingn-convexfunctions by AllanPinkus(Haifa) and DanWulbert (La Jolla, CA) Abstract. We are given data α1, . . . , αm and a set of points E = {x1, . . . , xm }. We address the question of conditions ensuring the existence of a function f satisfying the interpolation conditions f (x ) = α , i = 1, . . . , m, that is also n-convex on a set properly i i containing E . We consider both one-point extensions of E , and extensions to all of R. We also determine bounds on the n-convex functions satisfying the above interpolation conditions. 1.Introduction. A function f defined on a set E in R is said to be n-convex on E if for every choice of n + 1 distinct points {x }n+1 in E i i=1 the n + 1st divided difference on these points is nonnegative. This divided difference may be formally defined by 1 1 x x 1 n+1 . . . . . . . . . n−1 n−1 x x 1 n+1 f (x ) f (x ) [x , . . . , x ; f] := 1 n+1 .