Regression 31

to calculate the slope and intercept of * line. Williams

(1983) gives an interesting discussion of the misuse of
ordinary least squares regression in the earth sciences.
Thus, whilst an ordinary least squares line may he
calculated as * first Step in the regression analysis, an
elaboration of or an alternative to ordinary least squares
regression is needed for most geochemical applications.
Some of these alternatives are reviewed below.

2 Reduced major axis regression

Reduced mayor axis regression is a more appropriate form

of regression analysts for geochemistry than the more popular
ordinary least squares regression. The method (Kermack and
Haldane, 1950) is based upon minimizing the areas cf the
mangles ; . between points and the best fit fine (Figure 2.2d). '.
The slope t of die reduced major axis line is given by
b = 1 (S,/5r) (2.7]
where Sx and 5y are the standard deviations of sample
values s snd y and the sign is taken from the correlation
coefficient. Thus, unlike ordinary least squares and least
normal squares regression, the slope of the reduced major
axis line is independent of the correlation coefficient r. The
intercept a is taken from Eqn [2.5] above. Butler (1986)
comments that there is some difficulty in estimating the
confidence limits for the reduced major axis line but fellows
Moran (1971) in using the 95 % confidence bounds of the
two ordinary least squares lines as the 95 % confidence
limits. Till (1974 p.102) calculates confidence intervals
in terms of standard deviations.
In Figure 2,3 a comparison of regression lir.es is shown.
Using the variables Fe2Oj and CaO from Table 2.2 the
ordinary least squares (regressing both r or. y and y on r),
and the reduced major axis methods are used to fit straight
lines to the data. The equation for each line is given.

.3 Weighted least squares regression

A more specialised treatment of data may require weighted

least squares regression. Tfiis is necessary when some dau
points are less reliable than others and so are more subject
to error. In this case different weights may be ascribed to
each data point before performing the line fitting. The
weighting must be assigned by the researcher and is
normally achieved by first calculating an ordinary least
squares line and then investigating the residuals the
differences between the data and the ordinary least squares
line.
The weighted least squares technique is the most
commonly employed method of constructing an isochron in
geochronology (York, 1967, 1969) although in detail the
Regression 31
different isotopic methods require slightly different
approaches. For example, Brcoks tt al. (1972) showed that
for Rb/Sr geochronology the 3serrors in the isotope ratios are
normally distributed and for St/*'Sr ratios less than 1.0
(the usual situation in whole-rock analysis) the errors are
not correlated. In Pb isotope geology, however, the errors
between the lead isotope ratios arc highly correlated and
require a slightly different treatment (see York, 1969).