The benefits of teaching Inverse Regression alongside Least Squares Regression: Graphical and numerical comparisons

A good, college-level first course in descriptive and inferential statistics must include the topic of Least Squares Regression. Indeed, most modern statistics textbooks discuss linear regression as soon as the concept of statistical correlation is understood. This article demonstrates how to enhance a general discussion of Least Squares Regression with the concept of Inverse Regression.  In Part I of this bipartite exposition, foundations are laid, and graphical and numerical comparisons are developed.  Deeper relationships are then explored in Part II of this series.