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Re: st: non linear equation difficulties with nl function evaluation program
From
Austin Nichols <[email protected]>
To
[email protected]
Subject
Re: st: non linear equation difficulties with nl function evaluation program
Date
Wed, 25 Aug 2010 10:45:25 -0400
Carolina Lopez <[email protected]>:
Also consider whether there are theoretical limits on parameters that
-nl- could not know about, and which could lead it into infeasible
areas of the parameter space; for example, if k is always positive,
you might prefer to specify lnk as a parameter and then put exp(`lnk')
in your formulas.
On Wed, Aug 25, 2010 at 7:26 AM, Carolina Lopez <[email protected]> wrote:
> Thanks both for your inputs.
>
> I´ll review the model again to see how I can simplify and fit it,
> focusing on k which is my key parameter.
>
> Carolina
>
> 2010/8/25 Nick Cox <[email protected]>:
>> I agree with Maarten's stance here.
>>
>> Has anyone actually fitted such a model with a success in your area? There are plenty of fields in which complicated models are copied from paper to paper and book to book, yet no-one has ever properly tested or fitted them.
>>
>> There is plenty of cautionary literature, e.g.
>>
>> http://demonstrations.wolfram.com/FittingAnElephant/
>>
>> Wei, J. 1975. Least square fitting of an elephant. CHEMTECH 5: 128–129.
>>
>> Nick
>> [email protected]
>>
>> Maarten buis
>>
>> --- On Wed, 25/8/10, Carolina Lopez wrote:
>>> I did start with a simple equation, which converged and
>>> gave significant parameters. But when I extended it to this
>>> complete version, I started finding issues.
>>>
>>> The thing is as alpha, k and n are in all my terms, I
>>> cannot do (or do not know how) independent programs that
>>> then get built up on one equation to estimate.
>>
>> Removing paramters is one way of simplifying an equation,
>> you can also remove other parts, or change the equation in
>> other ways. I cannot explain it more clearly than that you
>> need to look at the equation to find a suitable
>> simplification. Sounds simple, but I know it is hard and
>> frustrating work.
>>
>> The plus of this is, is that once you are done, you'll not
>> only be able to estimate your model, you will also have a
>> clearer understanding of it. It is not much of comfort now,
>> but it may be one in the future.
>>
>>
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