The error of polytopal approximation with respect to the symmetric difference metric and the \(L_p\) metric (Q1567334)

In the paper under review the error of asymptotic formulae for volume approximation of a sufficiently smooth convex body \(M\) by polytopes is estimated as the number \(n\) of vertices (or facets) tends to infinity. \textit{P. M. Gruber} [Forum Math. 5, No. 6, 521-537 (1993; Zbl 0788.41020)] for inscribed (or circumscribed) polytopes and the reviewer [Mathematika 46, No. 1, 103-125 (1999; Zbl 0992.52002)] for general polytopes derived precise asymptotic results for the symmetric difference metric, \(\delta(M,P_n)\), of \(M\) and its best approximating polytopes \(P_n\). The order of approximation is \(c(M)/ n^{2/(d-1)}\) where \(c(M)>0\) depends on the affine surface area of \(M\). The author refines the result for general polytopes and shows that the error term, i.e., \(\delta(M,P_n)-c(M)/n^{2/(d-1)}\), is at least of order \(1/ n^{2/(d-1) + 1/(8 d^2)}\). Similar results are obtained for approximation with respect to the \(L_p\) metric (of the support functions of the convex body and the polytopes). Recently, these results have been improved by \textit{P. M. Gruber} [Error of asymptotic formulae for volume approximation of convex bodies, Monatsh. Math., to appear] who showed for circumscribed polytopes that the error is of order at least \(1/ n^{2/(d-1) + 1/(3 (d-1))-\varepsilon}\). It is an open problem to determine the precise order of this error term.