ON A PROBLEM OF S. N. BERNSTEIN
Unknown
Submitted 1963-01-01 | SovietRxiv: ru-196301.04806 | Translated from Russian

Abstract Generated abstract

The paper solves a problem posed by S. N. Bernstein on the least uniform deviation from zero of trigonometric polynomials of degree at most n with prescribed sine and cosine coefficients at a fixed harmonic h. Reducing the question to maximization of the first cosine coefficient over normalized trigonometric polynomials, it applies Voronovskaya’s method of finite linear functionals and constructs extremal polynomials from Hermite interpolation polynomials related to Chebyshev polynomials. The result gives explicit formulas for the extremal value and for least-deviation polynomials, including conditions for uniqueness and the general form of nonunique extremals in the remaining degree ranges.

Full Text

MATHEMATICS

I. Yu. RYZHAKOV

ON A PROBLEM OF S. N. BERNSTEIN

(Presented by Academician V. I. Smirnov, 12 VI 1963)

Denote by \(C_{2\pi}\) the space of continuous functions \(x(t)\) defined on \([0,2\pi]\) and satisfying the condition \(x(0)=x(2\pi)\); by \(\mathcal P_{n,h}(\alpha,\beta)\) the class of trigonometric polynomials \(P_n(t)\),

\[ P_n(t)=\sum_{k=0}^{n}\left(a_k\cos kt+b_k\sin kt\right) \]

of order not exceeding \(n\), with real coefficients \(a_k\) and \(b_k\) and fixed \(a_h=\alpha\) and \(b_h=\beta\), \(0<h\le n\); and by \(\mathcal P_n\) the class of trigonometric polynomials \(P_n(t)\) subject to the condition

\[ \sup_{[0,2\pi]} |P_n(t)|=1 . \]

In \((^1)\), pp. 28–31, the problem was posed of finding

\[ M_{n,h}(\alpha,\beta)= \inf_{P_n(t)\in\mathcal P_{n,h}(\alpha,\beta)} \sup_{[0,2\pi]} |P_n(t)| . \]

There S. N. Bernstein obtained an estimate of this quantity and investigated its asymptotics.

In the present article the exact value of \(M_{n,h}(\alpha,\beta)\) is found and a polynomial \(\pi_{n,h}(\alpha,\beta,t)\in\mathcal P_{n,h}(\alpha,\beta)\) is constructed for which

\[ \sup_{[0,2\pi]} |\pi_{n,h}(\alpha,\beta,t)|=M_{n,h}(\alpha,\beta). \]

Since \(M_{n,h}(\alpha,\beta)=M_{m,1}(\alpha,\beta)\), where \(m=E(n/h)\), it is possible to restrict oneself to considering the class \(\mathcal P_{n,1}(\alpha,\beta)\). Moreover, if the polynomial \(\pi_{n,1}(\alpha,\beta,t)\) has the least deviation from zero on \([0,2\pi]\) in \(\mathcal P_{n,1}(\alpha,\beta)\), then the polynomial \(A\pi_{n,1}(\alpha,\beta,t+\varphi)\), where

\[ A^2=\frac{1}{\alpha^2+\beta^2}, \qquad \varphi=\operatorname{arc\,tg}\frac{\beta}{\alpha}, \]

belongs to \(\mathcal P_{n,1}(1,0)\), and its deviation from zero is the least in this class. Consequently, it suffices to indicate in \(\mathcal P_{n,1}(1,0)\) a polynomial with least deviation from zero and to find \(M_{n,1}(1,0)\). This last problem may be replaced by the following: in \(\mathcal P_n\), find a polynomial whose coefficient \(a_1\) is largest, and find

\[ \sup_{\mathcal P_n} a_1 . \]

Below precisely this formulation of the problem is considered.

The article uses the method of functionals proposed by E. V. Voronovskaya \((^2,^3)\).

A linear functional \(F\) on \(C_{2\pi}\) may be specified by a moment sequence \((\lambda_k)_{-\infty}^{\infty}\),

\[ \lambda_k=\int_0^{2\pi} e^{ikt}\,dg(t), \qquad k=0,\pm1,\ldots, \]

where \(g(t)\) is a real-valued function of bounded variation on \([0,2\pi]\), with

\[ \operatorname{Var}_{[0,2\pi]} g(t)=\|F\|. \]

A function \(x(t)\in C_{2\pi}\), \(\sup_{[0,2\pi]}|x(t)|=1\), will be called extremal for \(F\) if \(F(x)=\|F\|\).

The segment \((\lambda_k)_{-n}^{n}\), \(\lambda_k=\overline{\lambda}_{-k}\), defines a functional \(F_n\) on the set \(\mathcal P_n\),

\[ F_n(P_n)=\sum_{k=-n}^{n} c_k\lambda_k, \qquad P_n(t)=\sum_{k=-n}^{n} c_k e^{ikt}, \qquad P_n(t)\in\mathcal P_n . \]

The condition necessary and sufficient for \(P_n(t)\), \(P_n(t)\in\mathcal P_n\), \(P_n(t)\ne 1\), to be extremal for \(F_n\), consists in the fulfillment of the equalities

\[ P_n(t_j)=\operatorname{sign}\delta_j. \tag{1} \]

for all nonzero \(\delta_j\). Here \(0\le t_1<t_2<\cdots<t_s<2\pi\) are the deviation points of \(P_n(t)\) on \([0,2\pi)\), and \((\delta_j)_s\) are found from the system

\[ \lambda_k=\sum_{j=1}^{s}\theta_j^k\delta_j,\qquad \theta_j=e^{it_j},\qquad k=0,\pm1,\ldots,\pm n. \tag{2} \]

In the case when (1) is fulfilled, \(\|F_n\|=\sum_{j=1}^{s}|\delta_j|\), and the extension \(F_n=(\lambda_k)_{-n}^{n}\) to the sets \(\mathcal P_{n+p}\), \(p=1,2,\ldots\), with preservation of norms is unique and is realized by the numbers
\[ \lambda_{n+p}=\sum_{j=1}^{s}\theta_j^{\,n+p}\delta_j,\qquad p=1,2,\ldots . \]

Consider the functional \(F_{n,h}=(\lambda_k)_{-n}^{n}\), where \(\lambda_k=0\), \(k=0,1,\ldots,h-1,h+1,\ldots,n\); \(\lambda_n=1\); \(\lambda_k=\lambda_{-k}\). Obviously, \(F_{n,h}(P_n)=c_{-h}+c_h=a_h\). Thus, the problem is reduced to finding an extremal polynomial and the norm of the functional \(F_{n,1}\).

Lemma. Let

\[ \sigma_k= \begin{cases} \displaystyle \cos\frac{2k-1}{2(l+2)}\pi, & k=1,2,\ldots,\frac12(l+1),\\[6pt] \displaystyle \cos\frac{2k+1}{2(l+2)}\pi, & k=\frac12(l+3),\ldots,l+1, \end{cases} \qquad \text{for } l \text{ odd;} \]

\[ \sigma_k= \begin{cases} \displaystyle \cos\frac{k-1}{l+2}\pi, & k=1,2,\ldots,\frac12 l+1,\\[6pt] \displaystyle \cos\frac{k}{l+2}\pi, & k=\frac12 l+2,\ldots,l+2, \end{cases} \qquad \text{for } l \text{ even.} \]

There exists an algebraic polynomial \(H_l(x)\) of degree \(2l+1\) such that

\[ \sup_{[-1,1]}|H_l(x)|=1; \]

\[ H_l(\sigma_k)= \begin{cases} +1, & k=1,2,\ldots,\frac12(l+1),\\ -1, & k=\frac12(l+3),\ldots,l+1, \end{cases} \qquad \text{for } l \text{ odd;} \]

\[ H_l(\sigma_k)= \begin{cases} +1, & k=1,2,\ldots,\frac12 l+1,\\ -1, & k=\frac12 l+2,\ldots,l+2, \end{cases} \qquad \text{for } l \text{ even.} \]

Proof. The polynomial \(H_l(x)\) is the Hermite interpolation polynomial constructed at the nodes \(\sigma_k\):

\[ H_l(x)=2\,\frac{T_{l+2}^2(x)}{(l+2)^2x} \sum_{k=1}^{\frac12(l+1)} \sigma_k\frac{\sigma_k^4-(3\sigma_k^2-2)x^2}{(x^2-\sigma_k^2)^2} \qquad \text{for } l \text{ odd,} \]

\[ H_l(x)=\frac{T_{l+2}^2(x)}{(l+2)^4x} \left[ 1-2(x^2-1) \sum_{k=2}^{\frac12 l+1} \sigma_k\frac{\sigma_k^4-(3\sigma_k^2-2)x^2}{(x^2-\sigma_k^2)^2} \right] \qquad \text{for } l \text{ even.} \]

Here \(T_{l+2}(x)=\cos (l+2)\arccos x\). The condition \(\sup_{[-1,1]} |H_l(x)|=1\) is easily verified if one observes that the expression \(\sigma_k^4-(3\sigma_k^2-2)x^2\) is nonnegative on \([-1,1]\) for all \(k\).

Theorem. Let \(2l+1\le n<2l+3,\ l=0,1,2,\ldots\). The extremal polynomial for \(F_{n,1}\) is \(H_l(\mathrm{const})\).

Proof. We write the system (2) for the functional \(F_{2l+1,1}\) and the polynomial \(H_l(\cos t)\). In our case \(s=2(l+1)\), and the points \((\theta_j)_1^{2(l+1)}\) are the roots of the polynomial
\[ \frac{z^{2(l+2)}-(-1)^l}{z^2+1}. \]
From (2) we find
\[ \delta_k=(-1)^k \frac{\theta_k^{2(l+1)}} {\displaystyle\prod_{j=1}^{k-1}(\theta_k-\theta_j) \prod_{j=k+1}^{2(l+1)}(\theta_j-\theta_k)} \quad k=1,2,\ldots,2(l+1); \]
\[ \arg\delta_k=(k+1/2)\pi+(l+2)t_k \qquad \text{for \(l\) odd,} \]
\[ \arg\delta_k=(k+1)\pi+(l+2)t_k \qquad \text{for \(l\) even.} \]

It is now easy to establish the equalities (1) for the found \(\delta_k\). Thus the theorem is proved for \(n=2l+1\). Extending \(F_{2l+1,1}\) to the set \(\mathscr P_{2l+2}\) with preservation of the norm, we obtain
\[ \lambda_{2l+2}=\sum_{j=1}^{2(l+1)} \theta_j^{2l+2}\delta_j=0, \]
i.e. the indicated extension of the functional \(F_{2l+1,1}\) is the functional \(F_{2l+2,1}\). Since the polynomial \(H_l(\cos t)\) is extremal for \(F_{2l+1,1}\), it is also extremal for \(F_{2l+2,1}\).

Corollary 1. If \(2l+1\le n<2l+3,\ l=0,1,2,\ldots\), then
\[ \sup_{\mathscr P_n} a_1=\frac{2}{l+2}\ctg\frac{\pi}{2(l+2)}. \]

Indeed, for the indicated \(n\),
\[ \sup_{\mathscr P_n} a_1=\sup_{\mathscr P_{2l+1}} a_1 =\|F_{2l+1,1}\| =\sum_{k=1}^{2(l+1)}|\delta_k| =\sum_{k=1}^{2(l+1)} \frac{1}{\displaystyle\prod_{\substack{j=1\\ j\ne k}}^{2(l+1)}|\theta_j-\theta_k|} =\frac{2}{l+2}\ctg\frac{1}{2(l+2)}. \]

Corollary 2. If \(2l+1\le n<2l+3,\ l=0,1,2,\ldots\), then
\[ M_{n,1}(1,0)=\frac12(l+2)\tg\frac{\pi}{2(l+2)},\qquad \pi_{n,1}(1,0,t)=M_{n,1}(1,0)H_l(\cos t). \]

The polynomial \(H_l(\cos ht)\) is, obviously, extremal for \(F_{n,h}\) when
\((2l+1)h\le n<(2l+3)h,\ l=0,1,2,\ldots,\ 0<h\le n\). Any other extremal polynomial of this functional among its points of deviation on \([0,2\pi)\) must necessarily contain all points of deviation \((t_i)_1^{2h(l+1)}\) of the polynomial \(H_l(\cos ht)\). Hence it follows that

Corollary 3. If \((2l+1)h\le n<(2l+2)h,\ l=0,1,2,\ldots,\ 0<h\le n\), then the polynomial \(H_l(\cos ht)\) is the unique extremal polynomial \(F_{n,h}\). For \((2l+2)h\le n<(2l+3)h\) any extremal poly-

the polynomial \(P_{n,h}(t)\) of the functional \(F_{n,h}\) can be written in the form

\[ P_{n,h}(t)=H_l(\cos ht)+\psi(t)\prod_{j=1}^{2h(l+1)}\sin^2\frac{t-t_j}{2}, \]

where \(\psi(t)\) is a polynomial whose choice is restricted only by the condition \(P_{n,h}(t)\in \mathscr P_n\).

Corollary 4. If \((2l+1)h\leqslant n<(2l+3)h,\ l=0,1,2,\ldots,\ 0<h\leqslant n\), then

\[ M_{n,h}(\alpha,\beta)=\frac12\sqrt{\alpha^2+\beta^2}\,(l+2)\tg\frac{\pi}{2(l+2)}; \]

\[ \pi_{n,h}(x,\beta,t)=M_{n,h}(\alpha,\beta)\,H_l[\cos(ht-\varphi)],\qquad \varphi=\operatorname{arc\,tg}\frac{\beta}{\alpha}, \]

where \(\pi_{n,h}(\alpha,\beta,t)\) is the unique polynomial least deviating from zero on \([0,2\pi]\) in the class \(\mathscr P_{n,h}(\alpha,\beta)\), when \((2k+1)h\leqslant n<(2l+2)h\).

The general form of the polynomial of least deviation for the remaining \(n\) is clear from the preceding corollary.

Leningrad Institute
of Aviation Instrument Engineering

Received
12 VI 1963

REFERENCES

¹ S. N. Bernstein, Extremal Properties of Polynomials, 1937. ² E. V. Voronovskaya, Extremal Polynomials of Finite Functionals, L., 1955. ³ E. V. Voronovskaya. Proceedings of the Third All-Union Mathematical Congress, 3, Publishing House of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, 1958.

Submission history

ON A PROBLEM OF S. N. BERNSTEIN