Optimal Designs for Estimating the Slope of a Polynomial Regression

Abstract

Abstract The problem of estimating the slope of a polynomial regression at a fixed point of the experimental region such that (a) the variance of the least-square estimate of the slope at the fixed point is a minimum and (b) the average variance of the least-square estimate of the slope is a minimum is discussed in this paper. In general these designs can be obtained using Kiefer-Wolfowitz [5] characterization of c-optimal designs, Federov [2] characterization of L-optimal designs, and Studden's [10] generalization of the Elfving Theorem [1]. After presenting a brief review of these characterization theorems, specific illustrations for the quadratic and cubic regressions are presented in detail.