Before revision: In statistics, latent variables (from Latin: present participle of lateo ( “lie hidden”) , opposed to observable variables) are variables that are not directly observed but are rather inferred through a mathematical model from other variables that are observed (directly measured).Mathematical models that aim to explain observed variables in terms of latent variables are called latent variable models.
After revision: In statistics, latent variables ,from Latin: present participle of lateo ( “lie hidden”) , opposed to observable variables) are variables that can only be inferred indirectly through a mathematical model from other variables that are observed (directly measured).Mathematical models that aim to explain observed variables in terms of latent variables are called latent variable models.