residual
n. countablen. the amount that is left over after the main part of something is gone or has been taken away.
n. the difference between an observed value and the value predicted by a statistical model. Often used to assess the accuracy of a regression analysis.
The researcher calculated the residual for each data point.
If the residuals are randomly distributed around zero, it suggests the linear model is a good fit for the data.
By examining the residuals, the statistician identified several outliers that were skewing the results of the initial population growth study.
Recorded since 1570. From residue, itself borrowed during the Middle English period from Old French residu (Modern French résidu), from Latin residuum (“a remainder”), the neuter inflection of residuus (“remaining, left over”), perfect participle of resideō (“to remain behind”), from re- (“back, again”) + sedeō (“to sit, to reside”).
Commonly used in the plural form when referring to a set of data points in a statistical context.