Linear Regression Day 2

Explore the "Line of Best Fit" with the
LEAST SQUARES ANALYZER

Finding that all elusive "line of best fit" is the key to good linear regression. By changing the slope and y-intercept, you can get close to the perfect line for your data.

Today we will use a little device we found called the Least Squares Analyzer. It lets you set up a grid, plot 6 points, and then play with the slope and
y-intercept until you find a combination that generates the "least square" area.

So go ahead and read the intro example and look at the pictures, then click on the link and try it out for yourself. We supply you with two sets of data points and a few questions to get you going.

Step 1: When you go to the least squares analyzer, this is what you will see at first.

All of the red points are movable and three of them will change your graph substantially.

Step 2: The first thing you want to do is find your slope control dot and swing it around a bit. Put it near the bottom of the y axis and leave it there for now.

NOTE: it's real important that you always be able to see that slope red dot. If it goes off the page you won't be able to alter the slope.
set your slope dot near the bottom of the y axis

Step 3: Now play with the dot at the origin, (0,0). If you move that dot the entire grid goes with it. Be sure you don't lose your slope dot as you move the origin.

For our two examples, you will need to set it so that the first quadrant fills most of the page.
don't lose your slope dot

Step 4: Now let's make a grid with enough points to fit our data. If you move the red dot to the right of the origin, you can create more squares. We will need 11 squares on the positive y axis.
Make as many squares as you need.

Step 5: Now drag each of the six points P(1) to P(6) onto your grid so that they represent your six data points.
place your points

Step 6: Now experiment by dragging your slope and y-intercept dots until you think you have found the "least square" area possible. When you find it, you will have a line of best fit.

Step 6: Now select any two points on this line, find the slope between them, then substitute that slope and one of the points to find the equation for the line.

For a refresher on this process read the lesson, Linear Regression Day 1.

If you want to know the exact equation, you can always use a graphing calculator to do a regression or use the EQUATION GRAPHER.

EXAMPLE 1: go to the LEAST SQUARES ANALYZER

The other day Mrs. Bird was doing a survey on illegal gum chewing for the school newspaper. She visited 6 classrooms unannounced and did a quiet count of all the gum chewers in each room. She recorded the following data.

No. of classrooms surveyed (x)	Total people in all rooms chewing gum (y)
(1	1)
(2	5)
(3	6)
(4	8)
(5	10)
(6	10)

Now do the following steps:

Align the grid so we have 11 blocks on the y axis.
Position each of the points P(1) through P(6) matching them with the data points on the chart.
Adjust the slope and y-intercept until you think you have the absolute "least square" area possible. This will take a good bit of experimentation the first time you play with it.
Now determine the slope from your graph and write it here.
Now determine the y-intercept and write it here.
Now write the equation using the slope and the y intercept and write it here.
If there are 75 rooms in our school, how many illegal gum chewers will there be?

EXAMPLE 2: go to the LEAST SQUARES ANALYZER
Mrs. Loughry is on this new miracle diet. All she has to do is eat this ancient bread called Hanza Bread. It has some mysterious chemicals in it that make her not hungry for up to 8 hours. She has been on it for six days and her weight is coming down fast. Below is the record of her weight loss.

No. of days on diet (x)	Weight at end of day (y)
(1	130)
(2	127)
(3	125)
(4	121)
(5	122)
(6	120)

Now do the following steps:

Align the grid so we have 12 blocks on the y axis. Let the "x" axis stand for 120 lb. and each block represent a pound. This will take you up to 132 pounds on the top line.
Position each of the points P(1) through P(6) matching them with the data points on the chart.
Adjust the slope and y-intercept until you think you have the absolute "least square" area possible.
Now determine the slope from your graph and write it here.
Now determine the y-intercept and write it here.
Now write the equation using the slope and the y intercept and write it here.
How many days will Mrs. Loughry have to stay on this diet to reach a weight of 100 pounds?

For more regressions check out these:

day1 activity | day 3 activity | day 4 activity | Barbie Bungee Activity