SCIENCE

a - independently measured variable
b - independently measured variable
c - independently measured variable

Functions of a scientific theory
a(a,b) - theorized function
b(a,c) - theorized function
c(a,b) - theorized function

Scientific discoveries:
All variables: a, b, and c.
All functions: a(b,c), b(a,c), and c(a,b).

x - independently measured variable
y - independently measured variable
z - independently measured variable
r - calculated variable

Functions of a scientific theory
r(x,y) - theorized function
z(r(x,y)) - theorized function

Scientific discoveries:
Most variables: x, y, and z.
One function: z(r(x,y)).

Conclusion:
The scientific theory can help us predict the value of an independently measurable variable as long as we know the value of other variable(s).

PSEUDOSCIENCE

a - independently measured variable
b - independently measured variable
c - calculated variable

Functions of a pseudoscientific "theory"
c(a,b) - theorized function
b(a,c) - theorized function
a(b,c) - theorized function

Scientific discoveries:
The variables a and b.

Conclusion:
The pseudoscientific theory was not needed.

APPLICIATION IN COSMOLOGY:
Independently measurable
- spectrum
- spectral pattern
- redshift
- photon count
- exposure length
- angle between approaching photons at surface of imaging
- angular width of an image
- angular change of position in the sky
Calculated
- angular width of the object which was imaged
- brightness of an object at its surface
- comoving distance
- light travel time distance
- luminosity distance
- angular diameter distance
- radius of a galaxy
- radius of the universe
- age of a photon from the Cosmic Background Radiation
- age of the universe
- mass of a galaxy
- mass of a cluster of galaxies
- 4D velocity of a galaxy

RULE OF SCIENCE: Each of your calculated variables must be used to predict variables outside its definition. For example r may be derived from x and y, which then may be used to calculate z, which can be formulated in terms of x and y alone. Discontinue use of those calculated variables which do not serve any purpose in determining independently measurable variables outside its definition. A theory whose aim is to show these calculated variables to be the case cannot be a scientific theory. Calculated variables must serve simply as tools of math to get from one set of independently measurable variable(s) to another - in correspondence with observations.

__________________
cause of event ≠ explanation
My Cyclical Multiverse Hypothesis

I would like to see where inflation, Dark Energy, and Dark Energy sit in your dependent/independent variable chart

__________________
jwj

It's a big universe out there...is it really unwinding, really burning out?

They are calculated variables for sure - especially if we infer their past existence. However, the distinction between independent and dependent variables is different than the distinction between independently measured variables and calculated variables.

Calculated variables may serve merely as interim variables in science (like G, c, h, etc.). But what is more important for science is that a set of independently measured variables can be used to predict another set of independently measured variable(s).

__________________
cause of event ≠ explanation
My Cyclical Multiverse Hypothesis

I smell an agenda... kinda garlicky, isn't it? Maybe that's just my kitchen. Just say what you want to say.

__________________
pax et veritas

I am just a dunce, but I can only hope that it is an agenda that promotes observations and quantification of observations that can serve as a kind of data base for supporting qualitative ideas and implications. This is in place of purely quantitative data that is not supported by observations but is being used as if the math was equal to observational evidence.