函数逼近与插值的区别

函数逼近是要在整个区间，或一系列离散点上整体逼近被近似函数。

而在进行插值时，则须保证在若干自变量点上的函数值与被近似函数相等。

曲线拟合：

Curve fitting is the process of constructing a curve, or mathematical function, that has the best fit to a series of data points, possibly subject to constraints. Curve fitting can involve either interpolation, where an exact fit to the data is required, or smoothing, in which a "smooth" function is constructed that approximately fits the data. （这一段解释很棒！）

回归分析：

A related topic is regression analysis, which focuses more on questions of statistical inference such as how much uncertainty is present in a curve that is fit to data observed with random errors（能否这样理解：回归是检验拟合的效果？）. Fitted curves can be used as an aid for data visualization, to infer values of a function where no data are available, and to summarize the relationships among two or more variables. Extrapolation refers to the use of a fitted curve beyond the range of the observed data, and is subject to a greater degree of uncertainty since it may reflect the method used to construct the curve as much as it reflects the observed data.