Sunday, January 14, 2018

Curve Fitting: Fitting to the Curve y = a*e^(-b*x^2)

Curve Fitting:  Fitting to the Curve y = a*e^(-b*x^2)

Introduction

This blog is to fit data to the equation y = a*e^(-b*x^2).  A famous example is the equation:

y = 2/(π) * e^(-x^2)

which the indefinite integral of 0 to real number t is the basis of the error function. 

Turning y = a*e^(-b*x^2) into a Linear Form

y = a*e^(-b*x^2)

ln y = ln (a*e^(-b*x^2))

ln y = ln a + (-b)*x^2

Y’ = A’ + B’ * x^2

Where:  Y’ = ln y,  A’ = ln a, B’ = -b

Results:  e^A, B

Inputs:  square each of the data points of X, take the natural logarithm for Y.

Example

I use the HP Prime for this example. 

Fit the data below to the curve y = a*e^(-b*x^2).

x
y
-0.75
0.642931
-0.35
0.998284
0
1.128379
0.35
0.998284
0.62
0.768267
0.94
0.466951

Adjust data:

x
C1 = x^2
y
C2 = ln y
(to 6 decimal places)
-0.75
0.5625
0.642931
-0.441718
-0.35
0.1225
0.998284
-0.001717
0
0
1.128379
0.120782
0.35
0.1225
0.998284
-0.001717
0.62
0.3844
0.768267
-0.263618
0.94
0.8836
0.466951
-0.761531

Running the linear_regression(C1^2, LN(C2)) returns the matrix [B’, A’]:

[-0.998758, 0.120567]

The results must be adjusted: e^(.120567) = 1.128136

Final adjusted curve:  y ≈ 1.128136 * e^(-0.998758*x^2)

Using the Exponential Regression Model

We can use exponential regression function as an alternative to the linear regression. 

For the input, square all of the x data.

x
C1 = x^2
C2 = y
-0.75
0.5625
0.642931
-0.35
0.1225
0.998284
0
0
1.128379
0.35
0.1225
0.998284
0.62
0.3844
0.768267
0.94
0.8836
0.466951

The function exponential_regression from the HP Prime that fits data to the model y = B * A^x. 

To fit this model asked, y = a*e^(-b*x^2), we will need to take the natural logarithm of B. 

Hence:  exponential_regression(C1^2, C2) returns

[0.368337, 1.128136]

With ln(0.368337) ≈ -0.998757, the required equation is

y = 1.128136*e^(-0.998757*x^2)

Summary

To fit data to the curve y = a*e^(-b*x^2):

Linear Regression, Y’ = A’ + B’*X’
Exponential Regression, Y’ = B’*A’^X’
Input:  X’ = x^2, Y’ = ln y
Output:  a = e^A’, b = B’
Input: X’ = x^2, Y’ = y
Output: a = A’, b = ln(B’)

Eddie


This blog is property of Edward Shore, 2018.

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