Adjusted Fit Calculator

Know how well your model generalizes fast now. Adjust R-squared for variables and observations accurately. Get clean summaries downloadable files and transparent calculations instantly.

Calculator inputs
Choose one input method, then submit to compute adjusted fit.
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Predictors (p) excludes the intercept term.
Not required when using data rows.
May be negative for weak models.
Default is recommended for most regressions.
Up to 5,000 rows. Two numeric columns.
Expected columns: actual,predicted.
A header row is optional.
Why this mode helps
  • Computes SSE, SST, R², adjusted R² automatically.
  • Adds RMSE and MAE for error magnitude.
  • Provides a preview table for validation.
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Formula used

Adjusted fit is computed from R², sample size, and predictor count.
Adjusted R²
AdjR² = 1 − (1 − R²) × (n − 1) / (n − p − 1)
n is sample size. p is predictor count (excluding intercept).
When R² is derived
R² = 1 − SSE / SST
SSE sums squared prediction errors. SST sums squared deviations from the mean.
Error metrics (data mode)
RMSE = √(SSE / n)
MAE = (1/n) × Σ |y − ŷ|
Information criteria (optional)
AIC = n ln(SSE/n) + 2k
BIC = n ln(SSE/n) + k ln(n)
k counts estimated parameters (often p + 1 with intercept).

How to use this calculator

  1. Select an input method based on what you have.
  2. Enter predictors (p) and sample size (n) when needed.
  3. Provide R², or SSE/SST, or paste/upload data pairs.
  4. Press Submit to view results above the form.
  5. Download CSV or PDF to share your summary.

Example data table

These examples illustrate how adjusted fit changes with predictors.
Scenario n p Adjusted R² Interpretation
Baseline model 50 2 0.82 0.812 Strong, limited complexity
Add one predictor 50 3 0.83 0.819 Improves after penalty
Add many predictors 50 10 0.86 0.823 Gain is smaller than expected
Small sample risk 18 6 0.80 0.691 Penalty grows with low n
Tip: prefer holdout validation when comparing models.

Adjusted R² as a complexity-aware score

Adjusted R² refines R² by penalizing extra predictors, making it more stable for comparing models trained on the same target. It uses sample size (n) and predictor count (p), so identical R² values can imply very different reliability. With n=50 and p=2, R²=0.82 becomes AdjR²≈0.812. If you keep n fixed and increase p to 10, the adjusted score falls to ≈0.823 even when R² rises to 0.86.

Penalty behavior across predictors

In least squares, R² almost never decreases when you add variables, even if they are weak. The adjustment rescales the unexplained fraction (1−R²) by (n−1)/(n−p−1). The penalty is mild when p is small relative to n, but it accelerates as p approaches n. This is why a small apparent gain, such as 0.82→0.83, can be meaningful with low p, yet unimpressive with many predictors.

Sample size and degrees of freedom

Residual degrees of freedom are n−p−1. If n ≤ p+1, adjusted R² is undefined because the model has no remaining degrees of freedom to estimate error. Small samples amplify variance and can create optimistic R² values that collapse after adjustment. Example: n=18, p=6, R²=0.80 yields AdjR²≈0.691, signaling limited evidence and high model flexibility.

Error-based inputs and diagnostics

When you enter SSE and SST, the calculator derives R² = 1 − SSE/SST and then computes adjusted R². In data mode, SSE is computed from actual and predicted pairs, then RMSE = √(SSE/n) and MAE = (1/n)·Σ|y−ŷ| are added. RMSE highlights large misses, while MAE is more robust to outliers. Tracking both helps distinguish “few big errors” from “many small errors.”

Using adjusted fit in practice

Use adjusted R² to screen feature additions, not as the only validation signal. Prefer comparing models on the same evaluation split, and confirm improvements with cross-validation or a holdout set. Negative adjusted values are possible when the model underperforms a mean baseline. AIC and BIC appear when SSE is positive; they compare fit while penalizing parameter count (k), helping rank models under similar data assumptions.

FAQs

1) What does adjusted R² measure?

It estimates explained variance while penalizing added predictors. The score is most useful for comparing models fitted on the same dataset and target, because it accounts for both sample size and feature count.

2) Can adjusted R² be negative?

Yes. If the model fits worse than predicting the mean, R² can be below zero and adjusted R² can drop further. Negative values are a warning sign to revisit features, leakage, or evaluation setup.

3) What should I enter for predictors (p)?

Enter the number of independent variables, excluding the intercept. For one-hot encoded categories, count the created columns. For interactions or polynomial terms, count each added term as a predictor.

4) When should I use data mode?

Use data mode when you have actual and predicted values. It computes SSE, SST, R², adjusted R², RMSE, and MAE in one run, and lets you validate calculations with a preview table.

5) Why are AIC and BIC sometimes blank?

They require a positive SSE and a valid parameter count to evaluate the log-likelihood approximation. If SSE is missing, zero, or not computable from inputs, the criteria are withheld to avoid misleading results.

6) How do I compare two models fairly?

Keep the same target, dataset split, and evaluation process. Compare adjusted R² alongside RMSE or MAE. If models differ greatly in complexity, also review AIC/BIC and confirm with cross-validation.

Related Calculators

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Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.