Fitting linear models by eye is open to criticism since it is based on an individual preference. In this section, we use least squares regression as a more rigorous approach.
How well a straight line fits a data set is measured by the sum of the squared errors. The least squares regression line is the line that best fits the data. Its slope and y-intercept are computed fro...How well a straight line fits a data set is measured by the sum of the squared errors. The least squares regression line is the line that best fits the data. Its slope and y-intercept are computed from the data using formulas. The slope of the least squares regression line estimates the size and direction of the mean change in the dependent variable y when the independent variable x is increased by one unit.
Fitting linear models by eye is open to criticism since it is based on an individual preference. In this section, we use least squares regression as a more rigorous approach.