One-sided weighted integral approximation of characteristic functions of intervals by polynomials on a closed interval (Q1675309)

The authors consider the problem of one-sided weighted integral approximation to the characteristic function of a half-open interval \((a,1] \subset (-1,1]\) by algebraic polynomials.To find lower bounds, the known scheme of using quadrature formulas of the highest degree of precision with positive coefficients and several fixed nodes is considered. To obtain upper bounds, polynomials constructed according to methods going back to Markov and Stieltjes are used. It is also considered the problem of one-sided weighted integral approximation to the characteristic function of an interval \((a,b) \subset (-1,1)\) by polynomials. An example illustrating an essential difference of this case from the case of a half-open interval \((a,1]\) is also constructed.