Asymptotic approximation of convex curves (Q1337766)

Let \(\delta^ S (C,{\mathcal P}^ i_ n)\) be the distance of a convex disc \(C\) to its best approximating inscribed polygons with at most \(n\) vertices, where the distance is in the sense of the symmetric difference metric. \textit{L. Fejes Tóth} [`Lagerungen in der Ebene, auf der Kugel und im Raum', Springer, Berlin (1953; Zbl 0052.184), 2nd ed. (1972; Zbl 0229.52009)] derived an asymptotic formula as \(n \to \infty\) for \(\delta^ S (C,{\mathcal P}^ i_ n)\) for a \(C \in {\mathcal C}^ 2\) with positive curvature. In the present paper this formula is extended for a \(C \in {\mathcal C}^ 4\) with positive curvature by specifying the second term of the asymptotic expansion \[ \delta^ S (C,{\mathcal P}^ i_ n) \sim {1 \over 12} {\lambda^ 3 \over n^ 2} - {1 \over 2} {\lambda^ 4 \over 5!} \int^ \lambda_ 0 k(s)ds {1 \over n^ 4} + o \left( {1 \over n^ 4} \right) \] as \(n \to \infty\) where \(\lambda\) is the (equi-)affine length of \(C\), \(s\) the affine arc length, and \(k\) the affine curvature of \(C\). For the case of approximation by circumscribed polygons a similar formula is derived. For a survey on further pertinent results see \textit{P. M. Gruber} [Handbook of convex geometry. Vol. A. (1993; Zbl 0791.52007)].