A Text-Book on the Method of Least Squares (Classic Reprint)

Mansfield Merriman

ISBN 10: 1440091552 / ISBN 13: 9781440091551

Published by Forgotten Books, 2018

About this Item

Print on Demand. This book introduces the Method of Least Squares and shows how to use it to adjust and compare observations. It presents the mathematical development of the principles, methods, and formulas, and illustrates their application through numerous practical examples. The method is described in its historical context, beginning with its use in astronomy to handle observational errors and being extended to a wide range of other scientific disciplines. The author provides a detailed discussion of the principles of probability as they apply to measurement and adjustment of observations, and explores the law of probability of error. This law is then used to formulate the least squares criterion, which finds the most probable values for measured quantities. The author also examines the precision of observations and derives formulas for determining the probable error of an observation. By understanding the ideas and techniques in this book, engineers and scientists can make optimal use of their data in drawing conclusions and making informed decisions. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work, digitally reconstructed using state-of-the-art technology to preserve the original format. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in the book.

Seller Inventory # 9781440091551_0

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Text-Book on the Method of Least Squares (Classic Reprint)
• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication Date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1440091552
• ISBN 13: 9781440091551
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: New
• Book Type: print-on-demand item
• Seller catalogs:
  • Statistics

About this title

Synopsis

Least Squares for Engineers offers practical, step-by-step methods to align measurements and assess their accuracy.

Build your skills in adjusting observations, solving normal equations, and estimating errors with clear, work-ready guidance. This edition emphasizes real-world practice: improving precision through the law of error, mastering propagation of error, and using weighted observations. It combines theory with numerous illustrative examples drawn from engineering practice, plus problems to test understanding and solidify techniques.

• How to classify observations and handle direct, indirect, and conditioned data
• How to set up and solve normal equations for multiple quantities
• Ways to estimate probable errors and the precision of results
• Practical formulas and methods for processing observations with varied weights

Ideal for engineers, surveyors, and students who want a clear, applied introduction to least squares and error analysis.