least squares

noun

, Statistics.

1. a method of estimating values from a set of observations by minimizing the sum of the squares of the differences between the observations and the values to be found.

least squares

noun

1. a method for determining the best value of an unknown quantity relating one or more sets of observations or measurements, esp to find a curve that best fits a set of data. It states that the sum of the squares of the deviations of the experimentally determined value from its optimum value should be a minimum

Word History and Origins

Origin of least squares¹

First recorded in 1860–65