Factor analysis is a mathematical tool

Factor analysis is a mathematical tool which can be used to examine a wide range of data
sets. It has been used in disciplines as diverse as chemistry, sociology, economics,
psychology and the analysis of the performance of race horses. This tutorial is designed
to provide a basic understanding of the principles underlying factor analysis. The focus of
the tutorial is the analysis of a ‘factor space’ or ‘data space’. It was written to introduce the
undergraduate chemistry major to the basic concept of a ‘data space’ and to demonstrate
how factor analysis can be used to study a ‘data space’. As an aid to conceptualization a
geometric approach is used wherever possible and the actual linear algebra involved is
illustrated.

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