Entropy formula and continuity of entropy for piecewise expanding maps

Abstract: We consider some classes of piecewise expanding maps in finite dimensional spaces having invariant probability measures which are absolutely continuous with respect to Lebesgue measure. We derive an entropy formula for such measures and, using this entropy formula, in some parametrized families we present sufficient conditions for the continuity of that entropy with respect to the parameter. We apply our results to a classical one-dimensional family of tent maps and a family of two-dimensional maps which arises as the limit of return maps when a homoclinic tangency is unfolded by a family of three dimensional diffeomorphisms.