Illuminating Statistical Analysis Using Scenarios and Simulations

43A Multiple Regression Prediction Model

Statistical Scenario—Height, Sex, and Weight Regression

How can we come up with a way to make use of both height and sex together to make (possibly) better predictions of weight?

Quick answer: Use multiple linear regression.

It is tricky to draw this situation, so I'll ask you to visualize it. Imagine a swarm of points shaped like a flying saucer, as in Figure 43.1.

Figure 43.1

Now imagine a flat sheet of cardboard (or titanium) going straight through the middle separating the top of the flying saucer-shaped swarm of points from the bottom. That sheet snugly fits the points. The flying saucer and sheet can tilt along the -axis by shifting the front up or down. The flying saucer and sheet can also tilt along the -axis by shifting the side up or down. With and together, the flying saucer and sheet can have a combined tilt—up in front and down on the side; down in front and up on the side; and so on. The flying saucer and sheet can also ...