Data Analysis Using the Method of Least Squares: Extracting the Most Information from Experiments - Softcover

Wolberg, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 3540256741 ISBN 13: 9783540256748

Publisher: Springer, 2005

Synopsis

Measurements through quantitative experiments are one of the most f- damental tasks in all areas of science and technology. Astronomers a- lyze data from asteroid sightings to predict orbits. Computer scientists - velop models for recognizing spam mail. Physicists measure properties of materials at low temperatures to understand superconductivity. Materials engineers study the reaction of materials to varying load levels to develop methods for prediction of failure. Chemical engineers consider reactions as functions of temperature and pressure. The list is endless. From the very small-scale work on DNA to the huge-scale study of black holes, quantitative experiments are performed and the data must be analyzed. Probably the most popular method of analysis of the data associated with quantitative experiments is least squares. It has been said that the method of least squares was to statistics what calculus was to mathematics. - though the method is hardly mentioned in most engineering and science undergraduate curricula, many graduate students end up using the method to analyze the data gathered as part of f their research. There is not a lot of available literature on the subject. Very few books deal with least squares at the level of detail that the subject deserves. Many books on statistics - clude a chapter on least squares but the treatment is usually limited to the simplest cases of linear least squares.

About this title

From the Back Cover

The preferred method of data analysis of quantitative experiments is the method of least squares. Often, however, the full power of the method is overlooked and very few books deal with this subject at the level that it deserves. The purpose of Data Analysis Using the Methods of Least Squares is to fill this gap and include the type of information required to help scientists and engineers apply the method to problems in their special fields of interest. In addition, graduate students in science and engineering doing work of experimental nature can benefit from this book. Particularly, both linear and non-linear least squares, the use of experimental error estimates for data weighting, procedures to include prior estimates, methodology for selecting and testing models, prediction analysis, and some non-parametric methods are discussed.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3540256741
• ISBN 13: 9783540256748
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 263