What is extrapolation and why is it incorrect when doing regression analysis?

Last Update: May 30, 2022

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Asked by: Kareem Moore
Score: 4.6/5 (51 votes)

When we use regression line to predict a point whose x-value is outside the range of x-values of training data, it is called extrapolation. In order to (deliberately) extrapolate we just use the regression line to predict values that are far from training data.

Can linear regression extrapolate?

The linear regression is also (outside the x-coordinate range) an instance of extrapolation. The same line regresses four set of points, with the same standard statistics.

Can regression be used for extrapolation?

Making Predictions Using Regression Inference

Regression models predict a value of the Y variable, given known values of the X variables. ... Prediction outside this range of the data is known as extrapolation. Performing extrapolation relies strongly on the regression assumptions.

Extrapolation of a fitted regression equation beyong the range of the given data can lead to seriously biased estimates if the assumed relationship does not hold in the region of extrapolation. This is demonstrated by some examples that lead to nonsensical conclusions.

What is extrapolation and why is it a bad idea in regression analysis? ... Extrapolation is prediction far outside the range of the data. These predictions may be incorrect if the linear trend does not continue, and so extrapolation generally should not be trusted.

29 related questions found

"Extrapolation" beyond the "scope of the model" occurs when one uses an estimated regression equation to estimate a mean or to predict a new response y n e w for x values not in the range of the sample data used to determine the estimated regression equation.

In general, extrapolation is not very reliable and the results so obtained are to be viewed with some lack of confidence. In order for extrapolation to be at all reliable, the original data must be very consistent.

Extrapolation is using the regression line to make predictions beyond the range of x-values in the data. Extrapolation is always appropriate to use. Extrapolation is using the regression line to make predictions beyond the range of x-values in the data. Extrapolation should not be used.

In Statistics, Extrapolation is a process of estimating the value beyond the distinct range of the given variable based on its relationship with another variable. It is an important concept not only in Mathematics but also in other disciplines like Psychology, Sociology, Statistics, etc., with some categorical data.

Extrapolation is the process of taking data values at points x1, ..., xn, and approximating a value outside the range of the given points. This is most commonly experienced when an incoming signal is sampled periodically and that data is used to approximate the next data point.

Adjusted R2: Overview

R2 shows how well terms (data points) fit a curve or line. Adjusted R2 also indicates how well terms fit a curve or line, but adjusts for the number of terms in a model. If you add more and more useless variables to a model, adjusted r-squared will decrease.

Extrapolate is defined as speculate, estimate or arrive at a conclusion based on known facts or observations. An example of extrapolate is deciding it will take twenty minutes to get home because it took you twenty minutes to get there. ... To engage in the process of extrapolating.

Extrapolation factors that are too small to account for the uncertainty between the measured test result and ecosystem effects will allow potentially dangerous chemicals to slip through the process without undergoing adequate assessment.

When we predict values that fall within the range of data points taken it is called interpolation. When we predict values for points outside the range of data taken it is called extrapolation.

What is extrapolation and why is it a bad idea in regression analysis? ... Extrapolation is prediction far outside the range of the data. These predictions may be incorrect if the linear trend does not​ continue, and so extrapolation generally should not be trusted.

Disadvantages of Extrapolation

Extrapolated values can be unreliable, especially when there are disparities in the existing data sets. Extrapolation doesn't account for qualitative values that can trigger changes in future values within the same observation.

In order to (deliberately) extrapolate we just use the regression line to predict values that are far from training data. Note that extrapolation does not give reliable predictions because the regression line may not be valid outside the training data range.

Interpolation is used to predict values that exist within a data set, and extrapolation is used to predict values that fall outside of a data set and use known values to predict unknown values. Often, interpolation is more reliable than extrapolation, but both types of prediction can be valuable for different purposes.

The main difference is that spatial interpolation relies on some weighted average of the points located in a neighborhood (it is thus "local"), while trend surface analysis uses all the points that are available (it is thus "global").

Linear. Linear extrapolation means creating a tangent line at the end of the known data and extending it beyond that limit. Linear extrapolation will only provide good results when used to extend the graph of an approximately linear function or not too far beyond the known data.

Extrapolation Formula refers to the formula that is used in order to estimate the value of the dependent variable with respect to an independent variable that shall lie in range which is outside of given data set which is certainly known and for calculation of linear exploration using two endpoints (x1, y1) and the (x2 ...

Extrapolate in a Sentence ?

  1. The scientist tried to extrapolate the future results by looking at data from previous testing dates.
  2. Stockbrokers on Wall Street attempted to extrapolate the future of the stocks by looking at what was trending last week.

Extrapolation of a fitted regression equation beyong the range of the given data can lead to seriously biased estimates if the assumed relationship does not hold in the region of extrapolation. This is demonstrated by some examples that lead to nonsensical conclusions. Extrapolation from fitted polynomials and from multiple regressions, extrapolation to other environments, and some related topics are also considered. The Inadequacy for extrapolation of the assumed form of the fitted relationship can not always be established by a statistical analysis. Thus, extrapolation can not be supported on statistical grounds alone; It must be justified by physical considerations. Even if the assumed form of the relationship is correct, the extrapolation, though not biased, may be quite imprecise. This can be especially serious when the region of extrapolation is far from the region of the given data, and/or the model is a high-order polynomial or a multiple regression developed from data involving high correlations among the Independent variables.

Extrapolation refers to estimating an unknown value based on extending a known sequence of values or facts. To extrapolate is to infer something not explicitly stated from existing information. Interpolation is the act of estimating a value within two known values that exist within a sequence of values.

Understanding extrapolation and interpolation via prefixes

Both extrapolation and interpolation are useful methods to determine or estimate the hypothetical values for an unknown variable based on the observation of other datapoints. However, it can be hard to distinguish between these methods and understand how they differ from each other.

One of the easiest ways to understand these differences is to understand the prefix of each term. Extra- refers to "in addition to," while inter- means "in between." Thus, extrapolation indicates a user is trying to find a value in addition to existing values, while interpolation means that they want to determine a new value in between existing values.

Interpolation Extrapolation

The reading of values between two points in a data set

Estimating a value that's outside the data set

Primarily used to identify missing past values

Plays a major role in forecasting

The estimated record is more likely to be correct.

The estimated values are only probabilities, so they may not be entirely correct.

Extrapolation and interpolation are foundational concepts in predictive analytics methodologies, including logistic regression, time series analysis and decision trees.

Interpolation explained with an example

Interpolation means determining a value from the existing values in a given data set. Another way of describing it is the act of inserting or interjecting an intermediate value between two other values.

In data science or mathematics, interpolation is about calculating a function's value based on the value of other datapoints in a given sequence. This function may be represented as f(x), and the known x values may range from x0 to xn.

For example, suppose we have a regression line y = 3x + 4. We know that, to produce this "best-fit" line, the value of x must between 0 and 10. Suppose we choose x = 6. Based on this best-fit line and equation, we can estimate the value of y as the following:

y = 3(6) + 4 = 22

Our x value (6) is within the range of acceptable x values used to make the line of best fit, so this is a valid y value, which we have calculated by interpolation.

Common interpolation methods

Three of the most common interpolation methods are the following:

  1. linear interpolation
  2. polynomial interpolation
  3. spline interpolation

Linear interpolation

Linear interpolation is among the simplest interpolation methods. Here, a straight line is drawn between two points on a graph to determine the other unknown values. The simple method frequently results in inaccurate estimates.

Polynomial interpolation

In polynomial interpolation, polynomial functions are used on a graph to estimate the missing values in a data set. It is a more precise, accurate method. The polynomial's graph fills in the curve between known points to find data between those points.

There are multiple methods of polynomial interpolation:

  • Lagrange interpolation
  • Newton polynomial interpolation
  • spline interpolation

The Newton method is also known as Newton's divided differences interpolation polynomial. The Lagrange and Newton interpolation methods result in the smallest polynomial function, i.e., the polynomial of the lowest possible degree that goes through the data points in the data set. Both methods give the same result but use different computations to arrive at the result.

Spline interpolation

In spline interpolation, piecewise functions are used to estimate the missing values and fill the gaps in a data set. Instead of estimating one polynomial for the entire data set as occurs in the Lagrange and Newton methods, spline interpolation defines multiple simpler polynomials for subsets of the data. For this reason, it usually provides more accurate results and is considered a more reliable method.

Extrapolation explained with an example

Extrapolation is about predicting hypothetical values that fall outside a particular data set. The predictive quality of extrapolation means the method is usually used to predict unknown future values, unlike interpolation, which is usually about estimating past values.

For example, suppose a data set consists of four given values: 1, 3, 5 and 7. If these values were plotted on a graph and the line was expected to continue in the same way, the fifth value could be extrapolated as 9.

In this method, the last value is not known with certainty. However, it's possible to guess it with some degree of certainty based on what's already known about the curve's trajectory and the nature of the sequence of known values.

Common extrapolation methods

Three of the most common extrapolation methods are the following:

  1. linear extrapolation
  2. polynomial extrapolation
  3. conic extrapolation

Similar to linear interpolation, linear extrapolation involves using a linear function and drawing a straight line to predict values outside a data set.

In the polynomial extrapolation method, the values on a graph are determined with polynomial shapes and functions.

Conic extrapolation involves the determination of unknown values using conic sections with known data.

Applying extrapolation and interpolation

Interpolation often provides a valid estimate of an unknown value, which is why it's considered a more reliable estimation method than extrapolation. Both methods are useful for different purposes.

Interpolation is especially useful to estimate missing or lost past records to complete the records for a project or use case. Extrapolation is used to make predictions about an event or occurrence based on a set of known or past values.

In the real world, interpolation and extrapolation are implemented in many areas, including the following:

  • mathematics to derive function values to determine unknown values to solve real-world problems;
  • science to create weather forecast models, predict rainfall or predict unknown chemical concentration values; and
  • statistics to predict future data, such as population growth or the spread of a disease.

See also: polynomial interpolation, Fibonacci sequence, glossary of mathematical terms and algorithms and mathematical symbols.

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