For a plane polygonal domain Q and a corresponding (general) triangulation we define classes of functions pmix, v) which are polynomials on each triangle and which are in C^'CQ) and also belong to the Sobolev space ^""^'(n). Approximation theoretic properties are proved concerning these functions. These results are then applied to the approximate solution of arbitrary-order elliptic boundary value problems by the Galerkin method. Estimates for the error are given. The case of second-order problems is discussed in conjunction with special choices of approximating polynomials.
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