HP 42S - Manual (Page 27)

Let's start from MODL which is a “sub-sub-menu”. It has LINF, LOG, EXPF, PWRF and BEST.
If the LINF is active the calculator will try to fit the data in a y=Mx+B model.
If the LOG is active the calculator will try to fit the data in a y=M lnx+B model.
If EXPF is active the model is y=B exp{Mx} and PWRF is y=B x^M.
How can I select the model? This depends one what kind of data you are using. If you really don't
know try the BEST function which will change to what can be the best model.
The other functions in CFIT sub-menu are quite simple.
YINT: Gives the value of B (the name comes from LINF model which is of course the main model).
SLOPE: Gives the value of M (again this comes from LINF model). FCSTX: Just run the model for
a given y and returns a estimated x. FCSTY: Returns a estimated y for a given x. CORR: Returns a
number between -1 and 1 (the correlation coefficient) which tells us how good is the fit. 1 is the best
result.
Of course if you have only two data the calculator will find LINF to best model and the correlation
coefficient will be 1, which does not mean the estimation will be good!
9.2 The second line: ALLΣ, LINΣ, ΣREG and ΣRG? Functions.
Unlike HP-33S which has special variables for statistic, the HP-42S uses the normal R
nn
memories
from R
11
to R
23
in the following way.
R
11
for Σx, R
12
for Σx2, R
13
for Σy, R
14
for Σy2, R
15
for Σxy and R
16
for n.
This is like HP-41 and if LINEΣ is active it is all we have. If ALLΣ is active we have also
R
17
for Σln x, R
18
for Σ(ln x)2, R
19
for Σ ln y, R
20
for Σ(ln y)2, R
21
for Σln x ln y, R
22
for Σ x ln y and
R
23
for Σ y ln x.
Why should I know this? Because now we know how to access statistical data in programming and
also we know we cannot put important data in memories from R
11
to R
23
if we are going to use
statistics. (33S is better)
Of course unless you need HP-41 compatibility keep the calculator always in ALLΣ mode.
We said the statistical data start in R
11
but you can change this using ΣREG and to view where it is
starting just use ΣRG? Function.
Conclusion: Four useless functions!:(