Precision and linearity

[Dwight Lynn]

----------
On Saturday, March 30, 1996 12:17 PM Nigel Smith[SMTP:ns10005 at cam.ac.uk] 
wrote:
	
>In article <9603291834.AA29206 at mercury.med.pitt.edu>, >bap at MED.PITT.EDU
>(Bruce Phillips) wrote:

>>         Recently, Dwight Lynn had the audacity to communicate:
>>
>>> I'm sorry to inform you that you cannot determine a linear relationship 
>>> with just two points.  You'll need to set up another centrifuge at 3X 
for 8
>>> years and 8 months.
>>
>> Dwight Lynn
>>
>>         Au contraire, two points are the surest way to establish a 
straight
>> line.  In the realm of good science, I am willing to get the points 
BEFORE
>> drawing the line.
>
>Two points certainly define a line, and if want a straight line then two
>points is all you should take.
>
>However, if you want to prove to your peers that the line *is* straight, I
>would suggest you plot a few more...
>
>      Nigel

I did not say you couldn't draw a straight line between two points, of 
course you can.  I said you cannot determine a linear relationship.  If 
you've had any statistics, you know these are different points (so to 
speak). :-)

Dwight