Graphical AnalysisTM
Automatic Curve Fit
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How-To Notes -> this page
The analysis of a graph usually includes looking for the "best smooth
curve" that fits a particular data set. Most modern graphing software
take practically all of the drudgery out of this process. To have the
Graphical AnalysisTM software do an automatic curve
fit on your data:
- Select
"Automatic Curve Fit" from the Analyze Menu (or press
<Apple><F>).
- Select an appropriate function from the dialog.
- Select the data set that you want to work on.
- Click "OK".
The results of the analysis will be displayed at the bottom of the
graph.
The "Mean Square Error" is the
average (mean) of the square of the distance from each point to the
curve. The "errors" are squared to avoid the case where positive and
negative errors cancel each other out. Small is good.
Alternatively, for linear data you can get a best fit regression
line and regression
statistics.
last update July 3, 2000 by JL
Stanbrough