extrapolation

Definition

Statistical technique of inferring unknown from the known. It attempts to predict future data by relying on historical data, such as estimating the size of a population a few years from now on the basis of current population size and its rate of growth. Extrapolation may be valid where the present circumstances do not indicate any interruption in the long-established past trends. However, a straight line extrapolation (where a short-term trend is believed to continue far in into future) is fraught with risk because some unforeseeable factors almost always intervene. See also interpolation.