Quality Management for Organizations Using Lean Six Sigma Techniques

359Chapter fteen: Analyze

Regression analysis is probably the most widely used technique in modeling and data

analysis. In the term “simple regression,” the word “simple” refers to the fact that there is a

single independent (x) variable used to predict the value of the output variable, y. This dif-

ferentiates simple regression from “multiple regression,” in which multiple input variables

[conceivably many x(s)] are used to predict the value of y. The term “linear” simply means a

transfer function that is composed of input variables that are only raised to the rst power.

(Recall that x

1

=x.) In the case of simple (a single x) linear regre ...