EN
A subspace A of a topological space X is said to be $P^{γ}$-embedded ($P^{γ}$(point-finite)-embedded) in X if every (point-finite) partition of unity α on A with |α| ≤ γ extends to a (point-finite) partition of unity on X. The main results are: (Theorem A) A subspace A of X is $P^{γ}$(point-finite)-embedded in X iff it is $P^{γ}$-embedded and every countable intersection B of cozero-sets in X with B ∩ A = ∅ can be separated from A by a cozero-set in X. (Theorem B) The product A × [0,1] is $P^{γ}$(point-finite)-embedded in X × [0,1] iff A × Y is $P^{γ}$(point-finite)-embedded in X × Y for every compact Hausdorff space Y with w(Y) ≤ γ iff A is $P^{γ}$-embedded in X and every subset B of X obtained from zero-sets by means of the Suslin operation, with B ∩ A = ∅, can be separated from A by a cozero-set in X. These characterizations are used to answer certain questions of Dydak. In particular, it is shown that, assuming CH, the property of A × [0,1] to be $P^{γ}$(point-finite)-embedded in X × [0,1] is stronger than that of A being $P^{γ}$(point-finite)-embedded in X.