answersLogoWhite

0

The method used to calculated the best straight line through a set of data is called linear regression. It is also called the least squares method. I've included two links. I know the wikipedia link is a bit complicated. The slope and intercept are calculated based on "minimum least squares." If I draw a line through the set if points, for every x value in the data set I will have a y value and a predicted y value (y-hat) based on the straight line. The error (E) is this case is the predicted y minus the actual y. Linear regression finds the slope and intercept of the equation that minimizes the sum of the square of the errors. Mathematically this is stated as: Min z = sum (yi - y-hat)^2 To hand calculate a linear regression line wold take some time. The second link that I've included shows how to calculated this using excel.

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

Still curious? Ask our experts.

Chat with our AI personalities

RafaRafa
There's no fun in playing it safe. Why not try something a little unhinged?
Chat with Rafa
EzraEzra
Faith is not about having all the answers, but learning to ask the right questions.
Chat with Ezra
TaigaTaiga
Every great hero faces trials, and you—yes, YOU—are no exception!
Chat with Taiga

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: How do you calculate a straight line in statistics?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Math & Arithmetic

How do you calculate straight line angles?

invers tangent(slope)


Can a best fit line be inverse?

Yes, but not at the level of mathematics you are at. In elementary statistics, the line of best fit (if it exists) is always a straight line representing a linear relationship between two variables. The equation of the line is most often calculated using the least squares method. [This minimises the sum of the squares of the vertical differences between the values "predicted" by the line and those actually recorded. The process always leads to a straight line. However, in more advanced statistics, you will learn about transformations. If the relationship between two variables, X and Y, is an inverse relationship, then the relationship between 1/X and Y is linear and you can fit a linear best fit line to the data set given by 1/X and Y. This can then be used to calculate the best fit inverse curve.


What formula do you use to calculate the acceleration of an object moving in a straight line?

Acceleration = Final velocity - Initial velocity / time


Do line segments have to be straight?

Yes. If it is not straight, then it is not a line.


What does the straight line with a line above it mean?

In mathematical notation, a straight line with a line above it typically represents a specific type of mean or average, such as the arithmetic mean. In statistics, it can also denote a line segment or a bar over a variable to indicate its mean value. In some contexts, it may represent a repeating decimal. The exact meaning can vary based on the specific area of study or usage.