Best rank k approximation for binary forms

Abstract

In the tensor space $\mathrm{Sym}^d {\mathbb R}^2$ of binary forms we study the best rank $k$ approximation problem. The critical points of the best rank $1$ approximation problem are the eigenvectors and it is known that they span a hyperplane. We prove that the critical points of the best rank $k$ approximation problem lie in the same hyperplane.