least squares method

least squares method
Statistical method for finding a line or curve
the line of best fit
that best represents a correspondence between two measured quantities (e.g., height and weight of a group of college students).

When the measurements are plotted as points on a graph and seem to fall near the same line, the least squares method may be used to determine the best-fitting line. The method uses calculus techniques to find the minimum of the sum of the squares of the vertical distances of each data point from the proposed line. More generally, the process is called regression or, when the fitted curve is a line, linear regression.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Least Squares Method — A statistical technique to determine the line of best fit for a model. The least squares method is specified by an equation with certain parameters to observed data. This method is extensively used in regression analysis and estimation. In the… …   Investment dictionary

  • least-squares method — minimaliųjų kvadratų metodas statusas T sritis automatika atitikmenys: angl. least squares method; method of least squares vok. Methode der kleinsten Quadrate, f rus. метод наименьших квадратов, m pranc. méthode de plus petits carrés, f; méthode… …   Automatikos terminų žodynas

  • least squares method — mažiausiųjų kvadratų metodas statusas T sritis Standartizacija ir metrologija apibrėžtis Metodas, kuriuo randami skirstinio nežinomųjų parametrų statistiniai įverčiai. atitikmenys: angl. least squares method; method of least squares vok.… …   Penkiakalbis aiškinamasis metrologijos terminų žodynas

  • least squares method — mažiausiųjų kvadratų metodas statusas T sritis Standartizacija ir metrologija apibrėžtis Metodas, naudojamas lygties koeficientams apskaičiuoti, kai pasirenkama ypatinga lygties forma tam, kad būtų galima pritaikyti kreivę prie duomenų.… …   Penkiakalbis aiškinamasis metrologijos terminų žodynas

  • least squares method — mažiausiųjų kvadratų metodas statusas T sritis fizika atitikmenys: angl. least squares method vok. Fehlerquadratenmethode, f; Methode der kleinsten Quadraten, f rus. метод наименьших квадратов, m pranc. méthode des moindres carrés, f …   Fizikos terminų žodynas

  • least squares method — A method of estimating cost behaviour in which observed cost levels for various activity levels are plotted on a graph and the line of best fit is calculated (see linear regression). The regression line can then be used to forecast the total… …   Accounting dictionary

  • Least-squares spectral analysis — (LSSA) is a method of estimating a frequency spectrum, based on a least squares fit of sinusoids to data samples, similar to Fourier analysis. [cite book | title = Variable Stars As Essential Astrophysical Tools | author = Cafer Ibanoglu |… …   Wikipedia

  • Least squares inference in phylogeny — generates a phylogenetic tree based on anobserved matrix of pairwise genetic distances andoptionally a weightmatrix. The goal is to find a tree which satisfies the distance constraints asbest as possible.Ordinary and weighted least squaresThe… …   Wikipedia

  • Least squares — The method of least squares is a standard approach to the approximate solution of overdetermined systems, i.e., sets of equations in which there are more equations than unknowns. Least squares means that the overall solution minimizes the sum of… …   Wikipedia

  • least squares — noun a method of fitting a curve to data points so as to minimize the sum of the squares of the distances of the points from the curve • Syn: ↑method of least squares • Topics: ↑statistics • Hypernyms: ↑statistical method, ↑statistical procedure… …   Useful english dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”