Interpolation in several variables

Prof. Joseph Harris (Harvard)
Saturday, 7 February 2015, 12:55 PM
MIT, E25-111

An elementary theorem says that we can always find a polynomial f(x) of degree d or less having specified values at d+1 given points x. When we try to state (let alone prove) an analogue for polynomials in several variables, however, we run into immediate difficulties. In this talk, I'll try to show that the difficulties lie in the geometry of the points, and suggest at least a conjectural answer to the problem.