Routines (alphabetical) > Routines: L > LADFIT

# LADFIT

The LADFIT function fits the paired data {xi, yi} to the linear model, y = A + Bx, using a “robust” least absolute deviation method.

The figure below displays a two-dimensional distribution that is fitted to the model y = A + Bx, using a minimized Chi-square error criterion (left) and a “robust” least absolute deviation technique (right). The use of the Chi-square error statistic can result in a poor fit due to an undesired sensitivity to outlying data.

This routine is written in the IDL language. Its source code can be found in the file `ladfit.pro` in the `lib` subdirectory of the IDL distribution.

## Example

; Define two n-element vectors of paired data:

X = [-3.20, 4.49, -1.66, 0.64, -2.43, -0.89, -0.12, 1.41, $

2.95, 2.18, 3.72, 5.26]

Y = [-7.14, -1.30, -4.26, -1.90, -6.19, -3.98, -2.87, -1.66, $

-0.78, -2.61, 0.31, 1.74]

; Sort the X values into ascending order, and sort the Y values to

; match the new order of the elements in X:

XX = X[SORT(X)]

YY = Y[SORT(X)]

; Compute the model parameters, A and B:

PRINT, LADFIT(XX, YY)

IDL prints:

-3.15301 0.930440

## Syntax

Result = LADFIT( X, Y [, ABSDEV=variable] [, /DOUBLE] )

## Return Value

The result is a two-element vector containing the model parameters, A and B.

## Arguments

### X

An n-element vector containing the independent variable values. X may be of type integer, floating point, or double-precision floating-point. Note that the X vector must be sorted into ascending order.

### Y

An n-element integer, single-, or double-precision floating-point vector. Note that the elements of the Y vector must be paired with the appropriate elements of X.

## Keywords

### ABSDEV

Set this keyword to a named variable that will contain the mean of the absolute deviation of the Result and Y.

### DOUBLE

Set this keyword to force the computation to be done in double-precision arithmetic.

## Version History

4.0 | Introduced

## See Also

COMFIT, CURVEFIT, LINFIT, SORT