Construction and Selection of Smoothing Formulas
Abstract
Many types of phenomena are investigated by being observed at a large number of successive points or successive time intervals. All observations are subject to error; and it frequently happens that the errors of successive observations are such that the inferred velocities, accelerations, or the like, are wholly incredible as a result of these errors of observation. In cases of this sort some process of smoothing is a necessity; and even where no absurdity is obvious a smoothing process may be highly desirable. This means a process by which each observed value is altered slightly so as to bring it into reasonable relations with those that precede and follow it. In this there are obviously two conflicting aims, (a) to achieve reasonable smoothness, and (b) to alter the observed data by reasonably small amounts. The purpose of this report is to present a method by which these two conflicting aims are more effectively reconciled than by any previously used method.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1953
- Accession Number
- AD0021009
Entities
People
- L. S. Dederick
Organizations
- Ballistic Research Laboratory