How to Find a Linear Regression Slope

Linear Regression 7 Comments

Remember from algebra that the slope is the m in the formula y = mx + b. In the linear regression formula, the slope is the a in the equation y’ = b + ax. So if you are asked to find the linear regression slope, all that’s necessary is to find b in the same way that you would find a linear regression equation.

Step 1: Find the following data from the information given: Σx, Σy, Σxy, Σx2, Σy2. If you don’t remember how to get those variables from data, see this article on how to find a Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Follow the steps there to create a table and find Σx, Σy, Σxy, Σx2, and Σy2.

Step 2: Insert the data into the b formula (there is no need to find a).
linear regression equations

If formulas scare you, you can find more comprehensive instructions on how to work the formula in this article on how to find a linear regression equation.

Related posts:

  1. How to Find a Linear Regression Equation
  2. How to Perform a TI 83 Linear Regression
  3. How to Compute a Linear Regression Test Value
  4. How to Perform Linear Regression on the TI-89 calculator in Under a Minute!
Feel like Cheating at Statistics? This is the Statistics Handbook that your professor doesn't want you to see. So easy, it's Practically Cheating. Find out more »
Need more help? Ask on our free forums »

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

7 Responses to “How to Find a Linear Regression Slope”

  1. Lisa Barcomb said:

    Nov 08, 09 at 10:16 pm

    Oh these problems here are something else this is what I am talking about and come to find out, the problem number 1 and 2 on the homework was missing a step and that through me way off. I really was struggling then and finally it came to me. So basically I feel you really need to know what you are doing in statistics because you can really get lost fast and that will put you behind.

  2. Lauren Schultz said:

    Nov 12, 09 at 11:43 am

    I have to agree with Ms. Lisa. I got way into this and got stressed opout and had to walk away. But this explination really helped me out alot!!

  3. Donna Allen said:

    Nov 13, 09 at 2:01 am

    Lisa is so right. Each lesson builds upon each other. If you don’t understand something, it only snowballs into a mess of confusion. I was doing ok until chapter 8. Since then, I have really struggled to understand the lessons.

  4. Jennifer Thomas said:

    Nov 17, 09 at 5:25 pm

    I too have had alot more trouble since Chapter 8 but this site has definitely helped me to have a better understanding for most of the course work. I’d like to suggest more step by step examples be provided for Chapter 8.

  5. Donna Allen said:

    Dec 02, 09 at 7:36 pm

    The equation looks a bit intimidating. But, once you see how to plug in the numbers, it’s really not bad at all.

  6. Vanessa DuBarry said:

    Dec 04, 09 at 4:09 am

    These questions may seem very hard when you take the first glance but if you look well into it they are actually not that hard and this page helps. The only thing is that its a lot of work and you just have to be careful with the numbers.

  7. Donna Allen said:

    Dec 05, 09 at 12:05 am

    Much agreed. There’s nothing more frustrating than understanding how to work a complex equation and then finding your answer is off by one number. This is where I seriously lack patience when it comes to math :)

Leave a Reply