Least squares

Least squares
Least Least (l[=e]st), a. [OE. last, lest, AS. l[=ae]sast, l[=ae]sest, superl. of l[=ae]ssa less. See {Less}, a.] [Used as the superlative of little.] Smallest, either in size or degree; shortest; lowest; most unimportant; as, the least insect; the least mercy; the least space. [1913 Webster]

Note: Least is often used with the, as if a noun. [1913 Webster]

I am the least of the apostles. --1 Cor. xv. 9. [1913 Webster]

{At least}, or {At the least}, at the least estimate, consideration, chance, etc.; being no less than; hence, at any rate; at all events; even. See {However}. [1913 Webster]

He who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses The tempted with dishonor. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Upon the mast they saw a young man, at least if he were a man, who sat as on horseback. --Sir P. Sidney.

{In least}, or {In the least}, in the least degree, manner, etc. ``He that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.'' --Luke xvi. 10.

{Least squares} (Math.), a method of deducing from a number of carefully made yet slightly discordant observations of a phenomenon the most probable values of the unknown quantities.

Note: It takes as its fundamental principle that the most probable values are those which make the sum of the squares of the residual errors of the observation a minimum. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • least squares — least′ squares′ n. sta a statistical method of estimating values from a set of observations by minimizing the sum of the squares of the differences between the observations and the values to be found Also called least′ squares′ meth od. Etymology …   From formal English to slang

  • least squares — n. a statistical method used to find the curve that most closely approximates a set of data: it is based on minimizing the sum of the squares of the differences between expected and observed values of the data …   English World dictionary

  • Least squares — The method of least squares is a standard approach to the approximate solution of overdetermined systems, i.e., sets of equations in which there are more equations than unknowns. Least squares means that the overall solution minimizes the sum of… …   Wikipedia

  • least squares — noun a method of fitting a curve to data points so as to minimize the sum of the squares of the distances of the points from the curve • Syn: ↑method of least squares • Topics: ↑statistics • Hypernyms: ↑statistical method, ↑statistical procedure… …   Useful english dictionary

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  • least squares — Statistics. a method of estimating values from a set of observations by minimizing the sum of the squares of the differences between the observations and the values to be found. Also called least squares method, method of least squares. [1860 65] …   Universalium

  • Least-squares spectral analysis — (LSSA) is a method of estimating a frequency spectrum, based on a least squares fit of sinusoids to data samples, similar to Fourier analysis. [cite book | title = Variable Stars As Essential Astrophysical Tools | author = Cafer Ibanoglu |… …   Wikipedia

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  • Least-squares estimation of linear regression coefficients — In parametric statistics, the least squares estimator is often used to estimate the coefficients of a linear regression. The least squares estimator optimizes a certain criterion (namely it minimizes the sum of the square of the residuals). In… …   Wikipedia

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