On approximation in the \(L^ p\)-norm by reciprocals of polynomials (Q914090)

The paper treats the question of approximating functions from C[-1,1] and \(L_ p[-1,1]\), \(1\leq p<\infty\) by reciprocals of polynomials. Let \(\phi (x)=\sqrt{1-x^ 2}\) and \[ \Delta_{h\phi}f(x)=f(x+(h/2)\phi (x))-f(x- (h/2)\phi (x)) \] \[ if\quad x\pm (h/2)\phi (x)\in [-1,],\quad \Delta_{h\phi}f(x)=0\quad otherwise. \] The Ditzian-Totik modulus of continuity [\textit{Z. Ditzian} and \textit{V. Totik}, ``Moduli of Smoothness'', (1987; Zbl 0666.41001)] is employed \(\omega_{\phi}(f,t)_ p=\sup_{0\leq h\leq t}\| \Delta_{h\phi}f\|_ p.\) For the case of the space C[-1,1] a sup norm over [-1,1] is used. The main result is Theorem 3. Let \(f\in L^{p+1}[-1,1]\), \(1\leq p<\infty\) be nonconstant and nonnegative. Then there exists a sequence of polynomials \(\{P_ n\}_ 1^{\infty}\), with \(P_ n\in {\mathcal P}_ n\), such that \[ (1)\quad \| f-1/p_ n\|_ p\leq c\omega_{\phi}(f,1/n)_{p+1},\quad n=1,2,... \] \({\mathcal P}_ n\) denotes the set of all real polynomials of degree at most n. A result is also obtained for the case of the space C[-1,1] where a sup norm is taken in both sides of the corresponding inequality. It's established that if the function f increases in the space C, then the corresponding polynomials \(P_ n\) can be taken decreasing.