Abstract

The quasifractional approximation method is developed in a systematic manner. This method uses simultaneously the power series, and at a second point, the asymptotic expansion. The usual form of the approximants is two or more rational fractions, in terms of a suitable variable, combined with auxiliary nonfractional functions. Coincidence in the singularities in the region of interest is pursued. Equal denominators in the rational fractions is required so that the solution of only linear algebraic equations is needed to determine the parameters of the approximant. An upper bound is obtained for the truncation error for a certain class of functions, which contains most of the functions for which this method has been applied so far. It is shown that quasifractional approximants can be derived as a mixed German and Latin polynomial problem in the context of Hermite-Pade approximation theory.