Does the through-origin least squares line pass through the point (ybar, xbar)?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the "through-origin" least squares line represented by the equation yhat = b*X and whether this line passes through the point (ybar, xbar). The context involves understanding the implications of fitting a linear model without an intercept.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between the calculated means (ybar, xbar) and the fitted line, questioning why (ybar, xbar) does not lie on the line for the through-origin model. They discuss the differences between this model and one that includes an intercept.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided insights into the mathematical reasoning behind the failure of (ybar, xbar) to lie on the line, suggesting that the equality does not hold for most data sets. There is an ongoing exploration of examples and clarifications regarding the implications of shifting data sets.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the discussion involves multiple data sets and their relationships, as well as the specific conditions under which the through-origin model operates. There is an emphasis on understanding the underlying assumptions of the models being compared.

zzmanzz
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Homework Statement



Does the "through-origin" least squares line

yhat = b*X

pass through the point (ybar, xbar)?

The "through-origin" model is the least squares model without the intercept.

Homework Equations



b = sum[YX]/sum[X^2]

yhat = b*X

The Attempt at a Solution



when I calculate a sample linear model yhat = b*X, ybar =/= b*xbar. The aforementioned result was obtained for two different data sets.

Online it says that for:

y = a + bX

(xbar, ybar) does lie on the line. However, for the model in question:

y = bX

(xbar, ybar) does not lie on the line.

I have the answer but I don't understand why it is so?
 
Last edited:
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zzmanzz said:

Homework Statement



Does the "through-origin" least squares line

yhat = b*X

pass through the point (ybar, xbar)?

The "through-origin" model is the least squares model without the intercept.



Homework Equations



b = sum[YX]/sum[X^2]

yhat = b*X

The Attempt at a Solution



when I calculate a sample linear model yhat = b*X, ybar =/= b*xbar. The aforementioned result was obtained for two different data sets.

Online it says that for:

y = a + bX

(xbar, ybar) does lie on the line. However, for the model in question:

y = bX

(xbar, ybar) does not lie on the line.

I have the answer but I don't understand why it is so?

You don't need data sets to see that (xbar,ybar) does usually not lie on the line: from the fit
##y = [\sum_i(x_i y_i)/\sum(x_i^2)] x## it will normally not be the case that ##\bar{y}## equals ##[\sum_i(x_i y_i)/\sum(x_i^2)] \bar{x}##. That is, for most data sets the equality will fail.

As to WHY it fails, consider two data sets ##\{ (x_i, y_{1i})\}## and ##\{ (x_i, y_{2i})\}## , with ##y_{2i} = y_{1i} + c## for all i; that is, y for set 2 is just shifted upward (or downward) by ##c##. You can easily check that for the least-squares lines with intercepts, the intercepts for set 2 is just that for set 1 plus c, and the slopes are the same. However, if you force the two lines to pass through the origin, the two slopes will be different: ##\text{slope 2} - \text{slope 1} = c \sum_i(x_i)/\sum_i(x_i^2)##, and so ##y_2(\bar{x}) - y_1(\bar{x}) = c \sum_i(x_i) \bar{x}/\sum_i(x_i^2)##, while ##\bar{y_2} - \bar{y_1} = c.## So, as long as ##\bar{x}\sum_i(x_i)/\sum_i(x_i^2) \neq 1## we could not have both lines passing through ##(\bar{x},\bar{y}).##
 
So the ybar in your examble is [mean(y_1i) + mean(y_2i)] / 2?
 
zzmanzz said:
So the ybar in your examble is [mean(y_1i) + mean(y_2i)] / 2?

No. They are the same as your ##\bar{y}##, except that we have two data sets so we have two ##\bar{y}##s.
 
oh nvm i got it. thank you
 
Last edited:

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