Modeling data with linear, quadratic, exponential, and other functions

Mary Parker, Austin Community College
Hunter Ellinger, Exemplar Technologies

In a “math for liberal arts” course, with about one-quarter of the time in the course, we cover modeling with several types of functions. Students use a spreadsheet to fit a particular model by considering how the graph of the model fits the data, systematic minimization of the standard deviation, and how to compare models by analyzing the residuals. They work with a transparent fitting mechanism rather than canned routines.  Students also learn about handling outliers, interpolation and extrapolation, and natural parameterization of models.  Complete instructional materials, example spreadsheets, and notes for instructors are available at http://www.austincc.edu/mparker/modeling/.

Handout from talk: part 1(explanation) pdf | part 2 (example) pdf (doc1 | doc2)

Spreadsheet shown in presentation (In Excel 2007 | Excel 2003 )

Course materials

Materials for instructors:

• MakeData spreadsheet
• Plans:
  • Provide instructions for doing this in OpenOffice, an open-source software package, so that students don't have to buy Excel.
  • Use formulas with two input variables
  • More variety in the levels of the exercises and include some which require more creativity.