This seems like a great introduction to the history. I have a problem with it, though.
In the first example, the method compute_error_for_line_given_points is called with values 1, 2, [[3,6],[6,9],[12,18]]. Where did those values come from?
Later in that same example, there is an "Error = 4^2 + (-1)^2 + 6^2". Where did those values come from?
Later, there's another form: "Error = x^5 - 2x^3 -2" What about these?
There seem to be magic formulae everywhere, with no real explanation in the article about where they came from. Without that, I have no way of actually understanding this.
Am I missing something fundamental here?
In the first example, the method compute_error_for_line_given_points is called with values 1, 2, [[3,6],[6,9],[12,18]]. Where did those values come from?
Later in that same example, there is an "Error = 4^2 + (-1)^2 + 6^2". Where did those values come from?
Later, there's another form: "Error = x^5 - 2x^3 -2" What about these?
There seem to be magic formulae everywhere, with no real explanation in the article about where they came from. Without that, I have no way of actually understanding this.
Am I missing something fundamental here?