2

I know what a regression line is.

What I'm curious about is the use of the word "regression". What's regressive about a regression line?

The etymology of "regression" is

early 15c., from Latin regressionem (nominative regressio) "a going back, a return," noun of action from past participle stem of regredi).

So, how is a regression line a "going back, a return"?

Chris C
  • 2,545
  • 16
  • 34
Julian A.
  • 223
  • 2
  • 5
  • 2
    I believe the origin of the term is from the idea of "regression to the mean." If I remember correctly the first usage was by Sir Francis Galton and the term simply stuck: http://galton.org/essays/1880-1889/galton-1886-jaigi-regression-stature.pdf – dsaxton Aug 09 '15 at 23:55

0 Answers0