Ladder of Transformations

.
.
y3
y2
y
√y
log y
-1/√y
-1/y
-1/y2
-1/y3
.
.
If curve is hollow upward go down the ladder.
If curve is hollow downward go up the ladder.
 Ladder of Transformations

Power Name Comment

2 The square of the data values Try it for distributions that are long-tailed to t

1 the raw data - no change at all Data that can take on positive and negative valu
with no bounds are unlikely to need re-expressio

the square root of the data

1/2 values Counts often benefit from a square root transfo
For counted data start here.

For measurements that cannot be negative and

Log old faithful - takes place of "0" especially
for values that grow by percentage increases
such as salaries or populations -- long-tailed to t
right.

- 1/2 reciprocal square root Not commonly used, but sometimes valuable.
The change in sign is so the order of the
data remains the same

-1 the reciprocal Rates that come in ratios (miles/hour) often

benefit from reciprocal. Rates become speeds.
change sign if you need to keep order.