[MATHEMATICA issue] Convergence on data?

[choffan]

Hi all,
Due to my idiotic uncapability with mathematical software, I'm unable in using Mathematica (8.0) for a very trivial issue.
I've a set from different countries data and I have to study a descriptive convergence, but I'm unable. The matter is simply putting the dates on a plot and work on it, creating an average line and taking distances with actual points.
Any suggestion would be warmely appreciated


;(

 

[Bill Simpson]

Meta Comment: A couple of decades ago Donald Norman wrote "If you had toaster that didn't work you would kick it down the stairs and not blame yourself for being not being "toaster literate", but with computers people tend to blame most of it on themselves.
End Meta Comment.

Since I don't have much information about the form of your data I'm trying to guess here. Is your data in the form {{date,value},{date,value}...} or can you make up a little data like that? If so then peek at http://reference.wolfram.com/mathematica/ref/DateListPlot.html and see some examples of how to plot date related data.

If that isn't helpful enough then please provide a little more information about the form of your data and how you want it displayed and I'll see if I can help you get it working.

 

[choffan]

Hey Bill,
I'm grateful for your appreciated help, it seems you got the point, despite my confuse picture of the mess. The real thing is that I never used Mathematica, only TSP, SPSS, and other econometrics-stuff. For sure using Excel (or SPSS) for this kind of problems seem to be quite immediate, but I wanted to exploit this simple task as an opportunity to learn Mathematica.

I'll review your material indepth this evening (Italy time) and give you an answer as soon as I can.

Thanks again!

 

[EnumaElish]

Mathematica has at least a couple of "ready-to-use" ("prêt-à-porter") linear regression routines (functions).

 

[choffan]

Thanks for the help, I appreciate!

I'm sorry that I'd been away for awhile, but I had to format my pc and go back to my hometown. I'll be back as soon as possible!