[R] Regression lines

[Uwe Ligges]

Tom Backer Johnsen wrote:
> My simpleminded understanding of simple regression is that when 
> plotting regression lines for x on y and y on x in the same plot, the 
> lines should cross each other at the respective means.  But, given the 
> R function below, abline (lm(y~x)) works fine, but abline (lm(x~y)) 
> does not.  Why?


Well, abline() in fact plots a line using the estimated coefficients for 
intercept and slope and assumes you have plotted LeftHandSideOfFormula 
against RightHandSideOfFormula.
If you did vice versa, abline() does not respect your mistake.

Uwe Ligges




> function () {
> attach (attitude)
> x <- rating
> y <- learning
> detach (attitude)
> plot (x, y)
> abline(v=mean(x))
> abline(h=mean(y))
> abline (lm(y~x))
> abline (lm(x~y))
> }
> 
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