For a full-column-rank design matrix in a normal linear model, a fitted mean at covariate vector is . The covariance matrix of the least-squares estimator immediately gives the displayed variance. Replacing by the independent unbiased residual variance gives its squared standard error and a Student t confidence interval on statistical degrees of freedom. A future response instead contributes an additional error variance when its error is independent of the fitted data.
Wright path tracing rule 2026-09-24
Wright's path tracing rule expresses a covariance in a standardized linear structural equation model as a sum of products of edge coefficients over admissible unblocked paths.