Regression
A method for fitting a curve (not necessarily a straight line) through a set of points using some goodness-of-fit criterion. The most common type of regression is linear regression.
The term regression is sometimes also used to refer to recursion.
REFERENCES:
Chatterjee, S.; Hadi, A.; and Price, B. Regression Analysis by Example, 3rd ed. New York: Wiley, 2000.
Gardner, M. "Infinite Regress." Ch. 22 in The Sixth Book of Mathematical Games from Scientific American. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, pp. 220-229, 1984.
Kleinbaum, D. G. and Kupper, L. L. Applied Regression Analysis and Other Multivariable Methods. North Scituate, MA: Duxbury Press, 1978.
Passmore, J. "The Infinite Regress." In Philosophical Reasoning. New York: Scribner's, 1961.