An Improvement of Least Squares Theory: Theory of Least p-Variances Approximation and p-Uncorrelated Functions

We establish a theory whose structure is based on a fixed variable and an algebraic inequality and which improves the well-known least squares theory. The mentioned fixed variable plays a basic role in creating such a theory. In this direction, some new concepts, such as p-covariances with respect to a fixed variable, p-correlation coefficients with respect to a fixed variable, and p-uncorrelatedness with respect to a fixed variable, are defined in order to establish least p-variance approximations. We then obtain a specific system, called the p-covariances linear system, and apply the p-uncorrelatedness condition on its elements to find a general representation for p-uncorrelated variables. Afterwards, we apply the concept of p-uncorrelatedness for continuous functions, particularly for polynomial sequences, and we find some new sequences, such as a generic two-parameter hypergeometric polynomial of the ${}_4{F}_3$ type that satisfies a p-uncorrelatedness property. In the sequel, we obtain an upper bound for 1-covariances, an improvement to the approximate solutions of over-determined systems and an improvement to the Bessel inequality and Parseval identity. Finally, we generalize the concept of least p-variance approximations based on several fixed orthogonal variables.