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Gruber P. Convex and Discrete Geometry

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11 Approximation of <strong>Convex</strong> Bodies <strong>and</strong> Its Applications 209<br />

x → �<br />

fi(ui · x) λi<br />

i<br />

is the characteristic function of D. Now integrate <strong>and</strong> use (7) to see that V (D) ≤ 2 d .<br />

Since TC ⊆ D, thisimplies(8).<br />

The definition of surface area in Sect. 6.4, the inclusion B d ⊆ TC <strong>and</strong> (8)<br />

together yield the following:<br />

V (TC + εB<br />

S(TC) = lim<br />

ε→+0<br />

d ) − V (TC)<br />

ε<br />

≤ lim<br />

ε→+0<br />

V (TC + εTC) − V (TC)<br />

ε<br />

= dV(TC) ≤ 2dV(TC) d−1<br />

d .<br />

This readily yields the desired upper estimate for the isoperimetric quotient of TC.<br />

The simple proof that equality holds if C is a cube is omitted. ⊓⊔<br />

11.2 Asymptotic Best Approximation, the Isoperimetric Problem<br />

for Polytopes, <strong>and</strong> a Heuristic Principle<br />

Given a metric δ(·, ·) or some other measure of distance on C, a convex body C<br />

<strong>and</strong> a class of convex polytopes Qn such as the class Pc (n) = Pc (n) (C) of all convex<br />

polytopes which are circumscribed to C <strong>and</strong> have at most n facets, or the class Pi n =<br />

Pi n (C) of all convex polytopes with at most n vertices which are inscribed into C,<br />

the following problems arise. First, to determine or estimate the quantity<br />

δ(C, Qn) = min{δ(C, P) : P ∈ Qn}.<br />

Second, to describe the polytopes P ∈ Qn for which the infimum is attained, the best<br />

approximating polytopes of C in Qn with respect to the given metric δ(·, ·). Using<br />

Blaschke’s selection theorem it is easy to show that, for the common metrics <strong>and</strong><br />

polytope classes Qn, best approximating polytopes exist. While precise answers to<br />

these problems are out of reach, it is possible to give satisfying results as n →∞.<br />

In this section the author’s asymptotic formula for δV (C, Pc (n) ) will be derived,<br />

using Zador’s Theorem 33.2 for α = 2. As an application, the isoperimetric problem<br />

for convex polytopes is considered. A comparison of asymptotic best <strong>and</strong> r<strong>and</strong>om<br />

approximation will show that, in high dimensions, the difference is negligible. This<br />

will lead to a vague heuristic principle.<br />

For more information we refer to the book of Fejes Tóth [329] <strong>and</strong> the surveys<br />

[417, 429, 434].<br />

The Asymptotic Formula for δ V (C, P c (n) )<br />

Our aim is to show the following result of <strong>Gruber</strong> [427], where δ V (·, ·) is the symmetric<br />

difference metric on Cp,<br />

δ V (C, D) = V (C�D) = V � (C \ D) ∪ (D \ C) � for C, D ∈ Cp.

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