Added by Chong Cheng Chiang on November 03, 2000 at 09:39:23:
Given a set of data points, we need to fit a straight line y = a + bx to these set of points such that the sum of squares of the distances to this straight line, y = a + bx, from the given set of point is a minimum.
The normal equation is given by
an + b*(Summation)x = (Summation)y
a*(Summation)x + b*(Summation)x² = (Summation)xy
From these normal equations, the specific values of a and b can be determined.