Answer to Question #228739 in Statistics and Probability for rahul

Question

Distinguish between correlation and regression.  

Answer 1

Generally, correlation is the analysis that shows the linear relationship between two variables, while regression is the analysis that shows the dependence between one variable (dependent) and one or more other variables (independent). Correlation is a measured correlation coefficient that varies between -1 and 1. The sign shows the direction of the relationship, and strength increases with an increase in the absolute value of the coefficient. Regression estimates the change in the independent variable due to a change in the value of one or more independent variables. It is used to predict the value of the dependent variable given specific values of the independent variables.  Thus, correlation is a statistical measure that determines a linear relationship between two variables, while regression describes how to numerically relate independent variables to a dependent variable by fitting the best function that estimates the dependent variable given specific values of the independent variables.