Line of best fit

Definition

A line of best fit is a straight line drawn through a scatter plot of data points that best represents the relationship between those points. It minimizes the sum of the squared differences between the observed values and the values predicted by the line.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The line of best fit is also known as a regression line.
2. It helps in identifying trends and making predictions based on data.
3. The equation of the line is typically written as y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept.
4. The accuracy of a line of best fit can be measured using R-squared (R²) value.
5. Outliers can significantly affect the position and slope of the line of best fit.

Review Questions

• What does the slope (m) represent in the equation y = mx + b for a line of best fit?
• How do outliers influence a line of best fit?
• What is one method to measure how well a line fits your data?

Related terms

Scatter Plot: A graphical representation showing the relationship between two variables using dots.

Correlation: A statistical measure that expresses how strongly two variables are related.

Regression Analysis: A set of statistical processes for estimating relationships among variables.