Stage 34 · Statistics

34.6.5 The Idea of Least Squares

34.6 Looking at Two Variables Together: Correlation and Regression

Point 5 of 7

34.6.5 The Idea of Least Squares

Core idea

Make the sum of the squared vertical distances from each point to the line as small as possible, and only then does the line fairly represent the trend

Module goal. Move from a single variable to paired data, describe correlation, fit a line, use it to predict, and understand that correlation is not causation
eastmath.com · 34.6 Looking at Two Variables Together: Correlation and Regression · 34.6.5 The Idea of Least Squares