Nonlinear Regression of Power-Exponential Functions : Experiment Design for Curve Fitting

Abstract: This thesis explores how to best choose data when curve fitting using power exponential functions. The power exponential functions used are μ(b; x)=(xe1-x)b and Φ(ρ; x)=((1-x)ex)ρ . We use a number of designs such as the equidistant design, the Chebyshev design and the the D-optimal design to compare which design gives the best fit. A few examples including the logistic and the heidler function are looked at during the comparison. The measurement of the errors were made based on the sum of least squares errors in the first part and the maximum error in the second part. MATLAB was used in this comparison.