I do have another question that I have been wanting to ask.
In chemistry, there are alot of opportunities for regression lines to
be found. When you take the regression of a scatter plot of \ln k as
a function of 1/t where t is temperature of a solution and k is
refering to the amount of solute from a solid that you have obtained,
you may get the value for -\delta H/r and \Delta s/r. Plotting an
acid base titration where pH is a funcction of base/acid added to the
acid/base solution, you can take the regression of the points on the
two buffer planes that result and by plugging in an estimate of the
volume at equivalence into both of the equations, and taking the
average half way point of the y outputs, you can find pH at equivalence.
Basically the moral of the story is that regressions and correlations
are useful in chem. I could talk about correlations but that would
prolong this message. Is there a way to do either of these with
maxima? Sure would be nice if I didn't have to open up my vm to do
the linest function in excel under win.
Regards
Justin Harford
Into this wild abyss, the weary fiend stood on the brink of hell and
looked awhile, pondering his voyage
John Milton
Paradise Lost