Polynomial and rational function modeling: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:00, 19 January 2008

Revision as of 18:07, 19 January 2008

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y = a_{n}x^{n} + a_{n-1}x^{n-1} + \ldots + a_{2}x^{2} + a_{1}x + a_{0}

</math>

with ''n'' denoting a non-negative [[integer]] that defines the degree of the polynomial. A polynomial with a degree of 0 is simply a [[constant function]],; with a degree of 1 is a [[linear function|line,]]; with a degree of 2 is a [[quadratic function|quadratic]],; with a degree of 3 is a [[cubic function|cubic]], and so on.

Historically, polynomial models are among the most frequently used empirical models for [[curve fitting]].