least squares

noun

, Statistics.

1. 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.

least squares

noun

1. a method for determining the best value of an unknown quantity relating one or more sets of observations or measurements, esp to find a curve that best fits a set of data. It states that the sum of the squares of the deviations of the experimentally determined value from its optimum value should be a minimum

Word History and Origins

Origin of least squares¹

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

The algorithm evolved beyond the conventional least squares method and helped devise a neural circuit model optimized for energy efficiency over diverse walking speeds.

From Science Daily

Each name was compared to the entire database of names in the other country using a least squares calculation of the difference in percentage of popularity in one country versus the other.

From Time

We applied a linear least squares fit and used the fit parameters to estimate the volatility for molecules for which we did not derive the structure.

From Nature

It was then that a young man named Carl Friedrich Gauss applied his method of least squares to historical patterns and was able to predict the orbit of Ceres .

From Forbes

It was then that a young man named Carl Friedrich Gauss applied his method of least squares and was able to predict the orbit of Ceres .

From Forbes