TI-92
TechSkills 2: Regression |
In this module we exploit the TI-92's statistical features to obtain a function that best describes a given data set from some point of view. The user must first decide on a kind of function to use, then the TI-92 finds an equation of best fit for that function. Once we have a function, then we can apply mathematical techniques for analysis.
The process of obtaining a function of best fit is called regression. The TI-89 supports a variety of functions for regression: linear, quadratic, cubic, quartic, power, exponential, logarithmic, sinusoidal, and logistic. We first illustrate with linear regression.
Linear Regression
Linear regression is the process of fitting a straight line to a data set. A linear function has the form y = ax + b. Hence,
the task of linear regression is to determine values for a and b that create the straight line that best fits the given data.
For example, we consider a data set from Sullivan and Sullivan, Precalculus enhanced with graphing utilities, Second Edition,
page 112, Example 3.
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Plot |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
|
fertilizer, X (lbs/100ft2) |
0 |
0 |
5 |
5 |
10 |
10 |
15 |
15 |
20 |
20 |
25 |
25 |
| Yield, Y (bushels) |
4 |
6 |
10 |
7 |
12 |
10 |
15 |
17 |
18 |
21 |
23 |
22 |
First we enter the data points into a table in the TI-92. Then we conduct a linear regression to obtain the equation of the
straight line of best fit through the three points. The slope of the regression line gives us a best estimate for the average
rate of change of yield per pounds of fertilizer applied per 100 square feet.
Step 1: Data Entry
Turn the TI-92  and press the  key. Press
 to select option 6: Data/Matrix Editor. If this is the
first time that you have used the Editor, choose the 3: New... option from the Editor submenu. You are then asked to
identify the type of data that you are going to enter and to name the file. As in the picture, select Data as the Type:.
Then use the thumb pad to navigate to the Variable: box and give the Variable a name (here, we entered crops). The Variable
is like a file name that we are giving to the data set. Then press the
 key twice.
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Note If you have used the Editor before, it may be more convenient simply to choose the 1: Current... option.
Either way, you will end up in the Editor screen. The main difference is that by going through the 3: New option you get an
empty data table. With the 1: Current option, the data table may have entries in it that need to be cleared. Clear the
Editor by pressing 
and then 
to select 8:Clear Editor.
After data entry, the next step is to plot the data set and then determine what type of function is appropriate for describing the data.
Step 2: Plotting the Data Set
To plot the data, you must tell the TI-92 where the data are that you would like to plot and what kind of plot that you want.
Now look at the data set. Ask yourself, is it reasonable to describe this data set with a linear function? The
linear function need not be a perfect fit to the data set, but should act as a general descriptor of the trend of the data in
the viewing window. Here we notice the general upward trend of the data. It appears reasonable to draw a straight line
through the data set that would act as a basic description of the general trend of the data.
Note You can use the Trace feature (
key) to
trace the data points on your StatPlot. You may also adjust the tic marks by adjusting the WINDOW menu; for example, set
xmin = -1, xmax = 26, xscl = 5, ymin = 0, ymax = 25, yscl = 5, xres = 1. After adjusting the window settings, then GRAPH.
Step 3: The Calculations
Now we fit a straight line through the data points. Of course, two points uniquely determine a straight line.
Although our twelve points don't fit exactly on any straight line, the TI-92 has a built in feature called linear
regression that determines the straight line that best fits our points. In statistics, this line of best fit is called a
regression line.
From the Plot window, press
to select 1: Current and return to the Data Editor.
In the Data Editor, press 
to access the Calc menu.
For Calculation Type, use the right arrow of the thumb pad to obtain the Calculation Type submenu. Highlight 5: LinReg,
then press . Use the down arrow on the thumb pad to
edit the
x.............
y.............
entries. Tell the calculator which columns the x and y values are in by typing   in the x blank and
in the y blank.
Next, change the Store RegEQ to... to y1(x) by using the right cross on the thumb pad. When done, your screen should
look like this.
Press to perform the regression and save the
regression equation to y1(x). The regression results appear in the STAT VARS information box. Here, the regression equation
is y = ax+b where the slope a = .717143 and the y-intercept b = 4.785714. Accordingly, we can report that the average rate
of change of yield is .7 bushels per 100 pounds per square feet of fertilizer applied.
Press to return to the Data Editor.
Press the  then GRAPH keys. Your data set is
beautifully displayed on the screen with the regression line running through it. Very nice!
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Note You can use the Trace feature to trace either the data points or the regression line. Press the
key to access Trace. Use the left-right thumb pad
to move along the data set. Use the up (or down) thumb pad to transfer to the regression line. Then, the left-right thumb
pad will navigate along the regression line. Use the up (or down) thumb pad to return to the data set.
Nonlinear Regression
First enter and plot the data (see Steps 1 and 2 for Linear Regression). We continue with Step 3.
Step 3: The Calculations
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To illustrate obtaining a function from data, we utilize a data set for the growth of the
brewers' yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, obtained by the biologist Tor Carlson
in 1913. Here, time is measured in hours and population in biomass units.
First enter the data set. Press
, then select either 1:Current or 3:New to return
to the spreadsheet. If you select 1:Current, you will need to clear the old data. To clear the old data in column c1,
first use the arrow keys to highlight the column heading c1. Then press 
to access F6 Util, the utilities menu. Then
select 5:Clear Column. Then use the arrow keys to highlight the column heading c2. Then press F6 Util again, and again select 5:Clear Column. After the old data set is cleared, then enter the
new data set.
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After the data are entered and checked, then we are ready to view the scatter plot. Press , then
GRAPH (the display may not show your data in a satisfactory manner). First, go to the Y= menu and clear or deselect
any unwanted functions. Then, use the handy ZoomData function by pressing  to access the Zoom menu, then press  to select 9:ZoomData. Your data set is displayed in the viewing
window. Although the data points are plotted, we can adjust the window for better viewing. Go to the WINDOW menu. Then
adjust the settings appropriate for the yeast data; for example: xmin = -1, xmax = 8, xscl = 1, ymin = 0, ymax = 300,
yscl = 100, xres = 1. Finally, press GRAPH.
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Step 4: Plotting the Data with the Regression Curve
We now obtain a plot of the data set with the regression line superimposed on the data. Since the plot setup is already done,
we merely need to ask for the graph. To do this, we must return to the Data editor.
Press , then select 1:Current to return to the spreadsheet.
From the Editor window press to select CALC. The
Calculate menu appears.
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For Calculation Type, choose 4:ExpReg to select exponential regression. Then select the marker of your choice, enter
and in the boxes for x and y data respectively, and Store RegEQ to y1(x).
Press to conduct the regression.
Press to perform the regression and save the
regression equation to y1(x). An information box containing the regression results appears. Our exponential function of best
fit is y = abx where a = 10.975695 and b = 1.589837.
Press to go back to the Editor.
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Step 4: Plotting the Data and Regression Curve
Since the plot setup has already been done in viewing the data set, we are ready to graph.
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Press the GRAPH keys. Your data should be
beautifully displayed on the screen with the regression curve running through it. Now that's really awesome!
Note You can use the Trace feature to trace either the data points or the exponential curve on your StatPlot.
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Logistic Regression
One does logistic regression by following the directions given in Nonlinear Regression. However, the equation returned by the TI-89 for logistic regression is not the basic logistic equation. The general form of the basic logistic equation is
where K is the carrying capacity and r is the intrinsic growth rate. However, the TI-89 returns the logistic with a vertical translation in the form
Accordingly, the initial population, f (0), and carrying capacity, K, are calculated by
and K =
.
We conclude with an additional step for students in calculus.
A Tangent Line
Your TI-92 can draw a tangent line to a function at a specified point. The slope of the tangent line is our desired estimate
for the instantaneous rate of growth; say, at t = 4. Here is how it works. We suppose that the screen is showing a plot of
the data and a graph of the exponential regression curve.
From the graph screen press to access the Math menu,
then select A:Tangent. Blinking crosshairs will appear on the regression curve. Simply type in 
and then press . Alternatively, you may use the thumb pad to position the trace
crosshairs as near as possible to the desired point of interest.
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Soon the tangent line will be drawn and its equation displayed at the bottom of the screen. Did you get a slope of 32.5?
We conclude, the yeast population is increasing at the rate of about 32.5 biomass units per hour after four hours of growth.
Recall that the conclusion to any applied problem should always be stated as a complete sentence with numbers described
within the context of the given problem. |
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Suppose now that you would like to estimate the slope of the tangent line at another input value. If you want to leave the
old tangent line for comparison, proceed with the above instructions for obtaining the tangent line at a new input value.
If you'd like to clear the current tangent line, then select F6, then press to select the 1:ClrDraw option to clear the drawing. Enjoy!
END
The author wishes to extend his appreciation to Texas Instruments for their professor assistance program. Visit the TI
calculator website at http://www.ti.com.
Charles M. Biles, Ph.D.
Department of Mathematics
Humboldt State University
Arcata, CA 95521-8299
email: cmb2@axe.humboldt.edu
and press 
key (the check mark means
that a plot is ON). Press 
