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Every continuous $2\pi$-periodic function admits degree-at-most-$n$ trigonometric polynomials with supremum norm error bounded by a universal constant times its modulus of continuity at scale $1/n$, for $n\ge 1$. This first-order Jackson-type estimate transfers to algebraic polynomials through cosine substitution for polynomial approximation.

The first Jackson theorem for periodic approximation asserts that a universal constant $C$ satisfiesfor every continuous $2\pi$-periodic function $g$, where the infimum is over degree-at-most-$n$ trigonometric polynomials.

Apply it to the even function $g(\theta )=f(\cos \theta )$. If $q_n$ is a trigonometric polynomial approximating $g$, its even parthas no larger error, because $g(-\theta )=g(\theta )$ and the triangle inequality bounds each averaged error by $\Vert g-q_n{\Vert }_{\infty }$. Every even trigonometric polynomial has the formHere the Chebyshev polynomials $T_j$ have algebraic degree $j$, so $p_n$ has degree at most $n$. Surjectivity of cosine givesConversely, every algebraic polynomial of degree at most $n$ yields such an even trigonometric polynomial. Taking infima therefore proves the exact identity $E_n^{\mathrm{alg}}(f)=E_n^{\mathrm{trig}}(\tilde{f})$, not merely an inequality. Combine this with the periodic theorem and the preceding modulus of continuity estimate:Symmetrization, the degree correspondence and the equality of norms justify every step in transferring the Jackson-type estimate.

At the cusp of $f_0(t)=|t|$, positivity and evenness of the Fejér kernel giveSince $\sin (t/2)\le t/2$,Summing the supplied lower bound over $I_k$, $1\le k\le n^{\prime }=\lfloor n/2\rfloor$, yieldsThe harmonic series satisfies ${\sum }_{k=1}^{n^{\prime }}{k}^{-1}\ge c^{\prime }\log n$, so

The modulus of continuity of the periodic function $f_0$ obeys $\omega (f_0,1/n)=1/n$. If a universal Jackson-type estimateheld for all continuous periodic $f$, it would give $O(1/n)$ for $f_0$, contradicting the lower bound. Thus