Esposizione del metodo dei minimi quadrati

Firenze: Barbera, 1876. FIRST EDITION. With 1 full-page plate. Contemporary half morocco and marbled boards; an excellent copy from the library of the Mount Wilson Observatory with the presentation bookplate to the Library from Adriaan van Maanen. First edition, though a portion appeared in a journal a few years earlier. Ferrero (1839-1902) was director of the Italian Geographical Institute and a president of the Italian Geodetic Commission. His work here deals with the presentation of the method of least squares as it applies to geodesy. Least squares method is a form of mathematical regression analysis used to determine the line of best fit for a set of data, providing a visual demonstration of the relationship between the data points. Each point of data represents the relationship between a known independent variable and an unknown dependent variable. Here the author presents his applications of least squares method to geodesy, especially important (as set forth in the explanations provided).

“The treatise of Colonel Ferrero may be recommended to those desirous of having a thorough practical acquaintance with the method, as decidedly the best and clearest on the subject” (Peirce, American Journal of Mathematics, Vol.1, No.1, p.59-63, 1878). Adriaan van Maanen (1884-1946) was a Dutch astronomer who spent time working with George Hale at the Mount Wilson Observatory, part of the Carnegie Institution.