With simple regression, the best-fitting line is the one that:
A) touches the most points
B) has the least squared distances from the points
C) has the least squared vertical distances from the points
D) has the least squared horizontal distances from the points

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The best-fitting line in simple regression is the one that has the least squared vertical distances from the points. This means that the line minimizes the sum of the squared vertical distances between the actual data points and the predicted values on the line. It is also known as the least squares regression line. The other choices are not correct because simply touching or having the least squared horizontal distances does not necessarily make the line the best-fitting one.

With Simple Regression, the Best-Fitting Line Is the One That