what is regression analysis used for
These are called the predicting, or independent variables, and are usually. represented by x1, x2, etc. Typically, a regression analysis is used for one (or more) of three purposes: (1) prediction of the target variable (forecasting). (2) modelling the relationship between x and y. (3) testing of hypotheses. The basis of what we will be talking about most of the semester is the linear model.