The theory of connections: connecting points (Q1649041)

Summary: This study introduces a procedure to obtain \textit{all} interpolating functions, \(y = f(x)\), subject to linear constraints on the function and its derivatives defined at specified values. The paper first shows how to express these interpolating functions passing through a single point in three distinct ways: linear, additive, and rational. Then, using the additive formalism, interpolating functions with linear constraints on one, two, and \(n\) points are introduced as well as those satisfying relative constraints. In particular, for expressions passing through \(n\) points, a generalization of the Waring's interpolation form is introduced. An alternative approach to derive additive \textit{constraint interpolating expressions} is introduced requiring the inversion of a matrix with dimensions equally the number of constraints. Finally, continuous and discontinuous interpolating periodic functions passing through a set of points with specified periods are provided. This theory has already been applied to obtain least-squares solutions of initial and boundary value problems applied to nonhomogeneous linear differential equations with nonconstant coefficients.