Approximation properties of sums of the form \(\Sigma _k \lambda _k h (\lambda _k z)\) (Q2518014)

The author gives a method for approximating functions \(f\) analytic in a neighborhood of \(z = 0\) by sums of the form \[ H_n(z) := \sum_{k=1}^n \lambda_k h(\lambda_k z), \quad n \in \mathbb{N}. \] Thereby \(h\) is an arbitrarily chosen analytic function on the unit disk. In order that \(H_n\) converges to \(f\) uniformly on some disk around 0 (largeness of this disk and speed of convergence are determined), the complex numbers \(\lambda_k\) have to be calculated \textit{depending} on \(h,f\) and \(n\). They are the solutions of an algebraic equation whose coefficients arise from (Newton) recurrence formulas. For instance, one may take \[ h(z) = \frac{1}{z - 1} \quad \text{ and } \quad z_k = \frac{1}{\lambda_k}. \] This gives the approximation of \(f\) by so-called \textit{simple fractions} \[ H_n(z) = \sum_{k=1}^n \frac{1}{z - z_k}. \] By approximating all the polynomials with fractions the following analog of Mergelyan's theorem is shown: On any compact set \(K\) with connected complement, each function \(f\) continuous on \(K\) and analytic in its interior can be approximated on \(K\) by fractions of the form \[ p_n(p,z) = \sum_{k=1}^n \frac{z_k^{-p}}{z - z_k}, \quad p \geq 0. \] Among other examples the author obtains formulas for the numerical differentiation and integration of functions analytic on the unit disk.