On the approximation of the zeta function by Dirichlet polynomials

Abstract

We prove that for $s=\sigma+it$ with $\sigma\ge0$ and $0<t\le x$, we have \[\zeta(s)=\sum_{n\le x}n^{-s}+\frac{x^{1-s}}{(s-1)}+\Theta\frac{29}{14} x^{-\sigma},\qquad \frac{29}{14}=2.07142\dots\] where $\Theta$ is a complex number with $|\Theta|\le1$. This improves Theorem 4.11 of Titchmarsh.