A set of bivariate data was used to create a least-squares regression line. Which of the following is minimized by the line?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking which quantity is minimized by the least-squares regression line when creating it from a set of bivariate data. The answer involves understanding the concept of residuals and how they relate to regression analysis.
Answer
The sum of the squared residuals.
The final answer is the sum of the squared residuals.
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is the sum of the squared residuals.
More Information
In a least-squares regression line, the goal is to minimize the sum of the squared residuals, which measure the differences between observed and predicted values.
Tips
A common mistake is assuming it minimizes the sum of the residuals, but this is always zero when the line passes through the mean of the data.