The paper improves the characterization theorem of a best uniform appr
oximation by a set of generalized polynomials having restricted ranges
of derivatives obtained in an earlier paper and gives a characterizat
ion of a best approximation with certain constraints in the L-p norm (
1 less than or equal to p < + infinity). These results are applicable
to many standard approximations with constraints. (C) 1998 Academic Pr
ess.