Least Squares Demo

Individual

This can be done individually. But feel free to chat with your group as you work!

Go to:

https://www.desmos.com/calculator/zvrc4lg3cr

  1. Move some of the green points (#2).

  2. Turn on the “Line of Best Fit” (#3). Move the red dots and see how the line changes.

  3. Turn on the “Squares” (#20). Now move the red dots and see how the squares change.

  4. See if you can get the line to fit the data as closely as possible. Hint: observe the “Sum of Residuals” value as you change the line.

  5. Enable the “Least Squares Regression Line” (#70). How close was your line?

Go back to step #1 and try again. Can you get the “Sum of Residuals” to equal 0? How?

Hand-in

Complete the survey:

https://wpi.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7WkPR1ldc9TsnNY

Put in you smallest “Sum of Residuals” value.

Happy regressing!

– Mark