computer science

XLfit

XLfit is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand XLfit rather than just read about it. In short: XLfit is a Microsoft Excel add-in that can perform regression analysis, curve fitting, and statistical analysis. It is approved by the UK National Physical Laboratory and the US National Institute of Standards and Technology XLfit can generate 2D and 3D graphs and analyze data sets.

Key takeaways

XLfit belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect XLfit to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of XLfit from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

XLfit is a Microsoft Excel add-in that can perform regression analysis, curve fitting, and statistical analysis. It is approved by the UK National Physical Laboratory and the US National Institute of Standards and Technology XLfit can generate 2D and 3D graphs and analyze data sets. XLfit can also analyse the statistical data. It includes over seventy linear and non-linear curve fitting models. Predefined categories include:

Exponential/Log, Power Series, Sigmoidal, Hyperbolic, Yield Density, Linear, Polynomial, Dose Response, Pharmacology, Equilibrium and Inhibition. Levenberg-Marquardt fitting algorithm. A range of statistical calculations can also be applied to the data from within the spreadsheet. Example statistics include:

F-test and t-test Area under the curve / ROC Confidence intervals Error values relating to parameter values or any point on the curve. Available statistical models include Spearman's rank correlations, Student's t-test, Mann–Whitney U test, least squares, and ANOVA, among others. A model editor also allows users to add their own models and statistics to the ones provided.

Usage XLfit was validated by The UK National Physical Laboratory in 2004; the unit tests for this are provided in the model editor from version 5.4 onwards to allow each version to be easily validated. XLfit was used by NASA to analyze the battery life of the Curiosity Mars Lander.

Licenses XLift is a proprietary software. It offers the following licensing options.

XLfit 5 Commercial License XLfit 5 Academic License E-learning

Version history 2002.8 XLfit 2.0.11 2002.5 XLfit 3.0.2 2003.11 XLfit 4.0.1 2005.6 XLfit 4.1.1 2005.6 XLfit 4.2.0 2008.7 XLfit 4.3.2 2009.4 XLfit 5.1.0 2009.7 XLfit 5.1.1 2009.11 XLfit 5.2.0 2010.11 XLfit 5.2.2 2011.11 XLfit 5.3.0 2012.1 XLfit 5.3.1 2014.5 XLfit 5.4.0 2015.5 XLfit 5.5.0

See also List of numerical analysis software List of statistical packages Comparison of statistical packages

References

External links XLfit Website

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with XLfit

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what XLfit claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to XLfit before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about XLfit ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of XLfit

In research: XLfit appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses XLfit in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: XLfit is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Data analysis software, Plotting software, Proprietary software, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for XLfit outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study XLfit in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what XLfit means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain XLfit out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is XLfit in simple terms?

Why does XLfit matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study XLfit?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on XLfit.