Method and apparatus for calculating confidence intervals

An apparatus for calculating error analysis, the apparatus comprising a set of instructions for calculating at least one confidence interval value, wherein said set of instructions comprises:

• an instruction to input at least one x-value and at least one y-value corresponding with at least three pairs of calibration standard data;
• an instruction to calculate at least one least-squares best line fit derived from the at least three pairs of calibration standard data;
• an instruction to calculate at least one set of calibration residual values from said at least three pairs of calibration standard data;
• an instruction to input at least one y-value corresponding with at least one unknown sample;
• an instruction to calculate at least one back-calculated x-value for said at least one unknown sample;
• and
• an instruction to calculate at least one confidence interval value for said at least one back-calculated x-value.

An article of manufacture comprising:

• a computer usable medium having set of instruction means embodied therein for calculating at least one confidence interval value for at least one back-calculated x value for at least one set of unknown sample data using a set of instructions, an article of manufacturing comprising:
• set of instruction means for causing the set of instructions to prompt a user to input at least three pairs of values based on at least three pairs of calibration standard data;
• set of instruction means for causing the set of instructions to calculate at least one set of least-squares best line fit from said at least three pairs of calibration standard data;
• set of instruction means for causing the set of instructions to calculate at least one set of calibration residual values from said at least three pairs of calibration standard data;
• set of instruction means for causing the set of instructions to prompt a user to input at least one unknown sample output measurement based on at least one set of unknown sample data;
• set of instruction means for causing the set of instructions to calculate said at least one back-calculated x-value for said at least one set of unknown sample information;
• and
• set of instruction means for causing the set of instructions to calculate at least one confidence interval value based on said at least one back-calculated x-value.

A system comprising a computer usable medium having a set of instructions for calculating at least one confidence interval value, wherein the set of instructions comprises:

• an instruction to prompt a user to input at least three pairs of values based on at least three pairs of calibration standard data;
• an instruction to prompt a user to input at least one value based on at least one set of unknown sample information;
• an instruction to plot at least one set of least-squares best fit data derived from said at least three pairs of calibration standard data;
• an instruction to plot at least one set of calibration residual values derived from said at least three pairs of calibration standard data;
• an instruction to calculate at least one back-calculated x-value for said at least one set of unknown sample data;
• and
• an instruction to calculate at least one error analysis value based on said at least one back-calculated x-value.

A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for calculating at least one confidence interval, comprising:

• activating a calculator;
• entering at least three pairs of calibration data;
• plotting at least one linear calibration curve derived from said three pairs of calibration data;
• plotting at least one calibration residual value plot derived from said three pairs of calibration data;
• calculating at least one back-calculated unknown sample input measurement;
• and
• calculating at least one confidence interval for said at least one back-calculated unknown sample input measurement.