Question

The line that most closely fits a set of data is called the _____.

Short answer

The line most closely fits a set of data is called the line of best fit.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the context

The term being referred to is a common concept in statistics, particularly in regression analysis. It represents a line drawn through a scatter plot of data points that best invokes the general trend those points represent.

Identifying the term

The line most closely fits a set of data establishes the relationship between two variables in your scatter plot. This line is called the 'line of best fit' or 'trend line'.

Filling in the blank

Based on the understanding and identifications from above, the line most closely fits a set of data is called the 'line of best fit'.