On sigmoidal functions (Q5936679)

According to \textit{Chen Debao} [J. Approximation Theory Appl. 9, No. 3, 17-28 (1993; Zbl 0784.41011)] the function \(\sigma: \mathbb R\to \mathbb R\) is called sigmoidal, if \(\lim_{t\to+\infty}\sigma(t)=1\), \(\lim_{t\to-\infty}\sigma(t)=0\). The author discusses the uniform approximation of the function continuous on \([0,1]\) by the superpositions of infinitely smooth sigmoidal functions. It is shown that the best approximation by the sum of \(n\) superpositions does not exceed the best approximation by the polynomials of the \(n\)-th power. An example is considered which shows that the function smoothness is not determined by the approximation order of smallness.