This monograph provides a comprehensive introduction to the classical geometric approximation theory, emphasizing important themes related to the theory including uniqueness, stability, and existence of elements of best approximation. It presents a number of fundamental results for both these and related problems, many of which appear for the first time in monograph form. The text also discusses the interrelations between main objects of geometric approximation theory, formulating a number of auxiliary problems for demonstration. Central ideas include the problems of existence and uniqueness of elements of best approximations as well as properties of sets including subspaces of polynomials and splines, classes of rational functions, and abstract subsets of normed linear spaces. The book begins with a brief introduction to geometric approximation theory, progressing through fundamental classical ideas and results as a basis for various approximation sets, suns, and Chebyshev systems. It concludes with a review of approximation by abstract sets and related problems, presenting novel results throughout the section. This text is suitable for both theoretical and applied viewpoints and especially researchers interested in advanced aspects of the field.

This monograph provides a comprehensive introduction to the classical geometric approximation theory, emphasizing important themes related to the theory including uniqueness, stability, and existence of elements of best approximation. It presents a number of fundamental results for both these and related problems, many of which appear for the first time in monograph form. The text also discusses the interrelations between main objects of geometric approximation theory, formulating a number of auxiliary problems for demonstration. Central ideas include the problems of existence and uniqueness of elements of best approximations as well as properties of sets including subspaces of polynomials and splines, classes of rational functions, and abstract subsets of normed linear spaces. The book begins with a brief introduction to geometric approximation theory, progressing through fundamental classical ideas and results as a basis for various approximation sets, suns, and Chebyshev systems. It concludes with a review of approximation by abstract sets and related problems, presenting novel results throughout the section. This text is suitable for both theoretical and applied viewpoints and especially researchers interested in advanced aspects of the field.