Fitting a Line to Data

1
Fitting a Line to Data
2
Best Fitting Line

• A line that best fits the data points on a
  scatter plot.

3
Approximating a Best Fitting Line

1. Plot the points given by the ordered pairs.
2. Sketch the line that appears to best fit the
   points.
3. Find two of the points on the line.
4. Use the slope formula to find the slope,m through
   these two points.
5. Use the slope that you just found and one of the
   points on the line to find the y-intercept,b.
6. Use the slope,m and the y-intercept,b that you
   just found to write an approximate equation of
   the line that best fits your data.
7. You may use this linear model to further analyze
   your data.

4
Best Fitting Line
x y
-8 -6
-7 -3.5
-5 -1
-3 0
-1 0.625
0 1
2 4
3 2.5
5 7
6 6.625
7 7
5
Best Fitting Line
x y
-8 -6
-7 -3.5
-5 -1
-3 0
-1 0.625
0 1
2 4
3 2.5
5 7
6 6.625
7 7
6
Best Fitting Line
Choose (8, 8), (-2, 0)
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Best Fitting Line
x y
-8 -6
-7 -3.5
-5 -1
-3 0
-1 0.625
0 1
2 4
3 2.5
5 7
6 6.625
7 7