What is "piecewise linear"

a. 1 (context mathematics English) equal to a sum of finitely many linear functions, each defined on a convex polytope: said of functions between vector spaces 2 (context topology English) Having a defining atlas such that there is a piecewise linear homeomorphism between any pair of intersecting atlas charts: said of manifolds

Piecewise linear may refer to:

• Piecewise linear curve, a connected sequence of line segments
• Piecewise linear function, a function whose domain can be decomposed into pieces on which the function is linear
• Piecewise linear manifold, a topological space formed by gluing together flat spaces
• Piecewise linear homeomorphism, a topological equivalence between two piecewise linear manifolds
• Piecewise linear cobordism, a cohomology theory
• Piecewise linear continuation, a method for approximating functions by piecewise linear functions