Derivatives of generalized farthest functions and existence of generalized farthest points ✩

The relationship between directional derivatives of generalized farthest functions and the existence of generalized farthest points in Banach spaces is investigated. It is proved that the generalized farthest function generated by a bounded closed set having a one-sided directional derivative equal to 1 or −1 implies the existence of generalized farthest points. New characterization theorems of (compact) locally uniformly convex sets are given.  2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved