Let Delta be a triangulation of a topological n ball embedded in R-n. Rose
has conjectured that if the module C-r(<(<Delta>)over cap>) of piecewise po
lynomial functions of smoothness r on <(<Delta>)over cap> is free, then so
is Cr-1(<(<Delta>)over cap>). For n = 2, we prove the conjecture, and we sh
ow that it is false in all higher dimensions. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevie
r Science B.V.