No label defined (Q4371964)

In approximation theory the `constant of best approximation' for a continuous function in the context of polynomial approximation is well known: \[ E_n(f):=\min_{p\in\Pi_n} ||f(x)-p(x)||_{\infty}=\min_{p\in\Pi_n} \max_{a\leq x\leq b} |f(x)-p(x)| \] (\(\Pi_n:\) the polynomials of degree at most \(n\)). The author considers the series \[ S(f)=\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} E_k(f), \] which can be seen as a measure of approximability of \(f\) by polynomials of arbitrary degrees. In several sections he gives quite a number of inequalities for \(S(fg)\) in terms of \(S(f)\), \(S(g)\), \(||f||_{\infty}\) and \(||g||_{\infty}\). He also treats \(S(f_1f_2\cdots f_n)\) and \(S(f^n)\). Furthermore refinements are deduced in case the function has a zero on the interval, miscellaneous inequalities are given and, finally, the weighted minimax-series is studied, where the weights \(\alpha_k\geq 0\), \(\alpha_0\not= 0\) satisfy \[ \alpha_{2r+1}\leq\alpha_r,\;\alpha_{2r}\leq\alpha_r,\;\alpha_{2r+1}\leq \alpha_{2r}\qquad (r\geq 0). \]