Algebra: Chapter 7, Lesson 7, page 333
Fitting Equations to Data
“The mathematical relationship between 2 variables is of interest in many real-world situations. The relationship between 2 variables can often be expressed as a linear equation, which is calleda model of the situation. The model can be use to make estimates or predictions about the quantities represented by the variables.”
In the problems with real-world data, we sometimes have to approximate, by plotting the data on a x-y graph and then drawing (fitting) a line the best way we can through MOST of the data. We can then use 2 of the points on our line to use to develop our linear equation.
We can use either the slope-intercept equation (`y = mx + b`) or the point-slope equation [`y – y_1 = m(x – x_1)`] to develop our linear equation.