The Nelder-Mead simplex method for function minimization is used for
fitting a model function to a set of data.  A best-fit set of parameters
is obtained directly.  A quadratic approximation of the least squares
function surface in the neighborhood of the minimum gives the
information matrix and thus the variance-covariance matrix and the
standard deviations of the parameters (not given directly the by simplex
method).  Alternating cycles of simplex minimization and quadratic
approximation more efficiently converge on the function minimum.

The program is stable enough to survive an undergraduate laboratory.  A
version of it has moved with me from Fortran on a main frame, to Fortran
on a mini, to CP/M basic, to CP/M C, and to UNIX.  Perhaps others will
find it as handy to have around as I have.

The documentation should be sufficient for relatively painless use of
the program -- including the minimal coding needed for fitting one's own
special functions and data.  Some of the documentation perhaps shows
that it comes from handouts for undergraduates.

There is a man page.  To view it:

	unshar this package (if not done yet)
	make manpage

To print it, set P in the makefile and:

	make printmanpage

The program reads an ascii file to get control values, starting
parameter estimates, and data.  For pointers on how to construct such a
file, see Input.doc and the sample input files, linefit.dat and ldhfit.dat.

Two test functions are coded in ldhfit.c and linefit.c.  To compile and
try them out, from the directory in which this package was unshared::

	make
	make testline
	make testldh

Each test produces an output file, which is diff'd against each of two
"standard" results files, which are supplied with the package and were
generated on different systems (under SysV on an AT and 4.3BSD on a Vax
8650).  Precision and rounding vary with the system, and are apparent
even in these relatively simple calculations, so perhaps one should not
be surprised if the test output agrees with neither of the "standards".
However, the differences should be of course small and consistent with
the precision expected.

To see the use of alternating cycles of simplex minimization and
quadratic approximation, compare ldhfit.testx, generated by simplex
minimization only (quad_test set at 0), with ldhfit.test1, generated
with alternating simplex and quadratic approximation.  


John Rupley
 uucp: ..{uunet | ucbvax | cmcl2 | hao!ncar!noao}!arizona!rupley!local
 internet: rupley!local@megaron.arizona.edu
 (H) 30 Calle Belleza, Tucson AZ 85716 - (602) 325-4533
 (O) Dept. Biochemistry, Univ. Arizona, Tucson AZ 85721 - (602) 621-3929