The least-squares method of cost estimation involves using mathematical regression techniques to calculate the slope and intercept of the best-fit line for the costs used in estimation.

This mathematical formula is used to predict the behavior of the dependent variables. The approach is also called the least squares regression line.

The Covariance Matrices for Which Least Squares Is Best Linear Unbiased, Scandinavian Journal of Statistics, Vol. 2, No. 2 (1975), pp. 85-90 ...