Polynomials designed to simplify calculations when a response variable is believed to be related to a polynomial function of an explanatory variable. If x1, x2,…, xn are n observations on the variable X, then the polynomials Φ1(x) and Φ2(x) are orthogonal ifIf we wish to fit the modelthen we will need (see multiple regression model) to invert the matrix product X′X, whereThis may not be easy, since X′X will often be nearly singular. One solution is to rewrite the model in the form
where Φ0(x)=1 and Φk(x) is a polynomial of degree k (k=1, 2,…, m). With n observations on x, denoted by x1, x2,…, xn, the polynomials are chosen to be orthogonal, i.e. to satisfy the requirements thatThe revised X matrix has a typical element Φk(xj) and is such that the product X′X is now a diagonal matrix and is therefore easily inverted.
Often the appropriate degree of dependence on x (in other words, the value of m) is unknown. The reformulation also makes it easy to select an appropriate model without the need for further iterations. In the ANOVA table the contributions for each polynomial can be listed separately.