Polynomial series versus sinc expansions for functions with corner or endpoint singularities (Q1085944)

In a review of methods that use ''Whittaker cardinal'' or ''sinc'' functions, \textit{F. Stenger} [SIAM Rev. 23, 165-224 (1981; Zbl 0461.65007)] shows that these basis functions - in combination with a change-of-variable - are a powerful tool for approximating a function with weak singularities at the ends of the interval. Although Stenger himself is careful to note that the same optimal convergence rate can be obtained with other basis functions, he does not elaborate or give examples. In this note, we show that the change-of-variable - not the use of sinc functions - is the key to success in coping with endpoint singularities. We explicitly construct approximations using mapped orthogonal polynomials which have the property of ''exponential'' or ''infinite order'' convergence for f(x) which has weak singularities at the endpoints but is regular on the interior of the interval.