Abstract:
Estimates are obtained for the nonsymmetric deviations $R_n[\operatorname{sign}x]$ and $R_n[\operatorname{sign}x]_L$ of the function $\operatorname{sign}x$ from rational functions of degree $\le n$, respectively, in the metric
$$
C([-1,-\delta]\cup[\delta,1]),\quad0<\delta<\exp(-\alpha\sqrt{n}),\quad\alpha>0,
$$
and in the metric $L[-1,1]$:
\begin{gather*}
R_n[\operatorname{sign}x]\asymp\exp\{-\pi^2n/(2\ln1/\delta)\},\quad n\to\infty,\\
10^{-3}n^{-3}\exp(-2\pi\sqrt{n})<R_n[\operatorname{sign}x]_L<\exp(-\pi\sqrt{n/2}+150).
\end{gather*}
is valid. The lower estimate in this inequality was previously obtained by Gonchar ([2], cf. also [1]).