.net - Correlation of two arrays in C#

Question

Having two arrays of double values, I want to compute correlation coefficient (single double value, just like the CORREL function in MS Excel). Is there some simple one-line solution in C#?

I already discovered math lib called Meta Numerics. According to this SO question, it should do the job. Here is docs for Meta Numerics correlation method, which I don't get.

Could pls somebody provide me with simple code snippet or example how to use the library?

Note: At the end, I was forced to use one of custom implementations. But if someone reading this question knows good, well documented C# math library/framework to do this, please don't hesitate and post a link in answer.

Answer 1

You can have the values in separate lists at the same index and use a simple Zip.

var fitResult = new FitResult();
var values1 = new List<int>();
var values2 = new List<int>();

var correls = values1.Zip(values2, (v1, v2) =>
                                       fitResult.CorrelationCoefficient(v1, v2));

A second way is to write your own custom implementation (mine isn't optimized for speed):

public double ComputeCoeff(double[] values1, double[] values2)
{
    if(values1.Length != values2.Length)
        throw new ArgumentException("values must be the same length");

    var avg1 = values1.Average();
    var avg2 = values2.Average();

    var sum1 = values1.Zip(values2, (x1, y1) => (x1 - avg1) * (y1 - avg2)).Sum();

    var sumSqr1 = values1.Sum(x => Math.Pow((x - avg1), 2.0));
    var sumSqr2 = values2.Sum(y => Math.Pow((y - avg2), 2.0));

    var result = sum1 / Math.Sqrt(sumSqr1 * sumSqr2);

    return result;
}

Usage:

var values1 = new List<double> { 3, 2, 4, 5 ,6 };
var values2 = new List<double> { 9, 7, 12 ,15, 17 };

var result = ComputeCoeff(values1.ToArray(), values2.ToArray());
// 0.997054485501581

Debug.Assert(result.ToString("F6") == "0.997054");

Another way is to use the Excel function directly:

var values1 = new List<double> { 3, 2, 4, 5 ,6 };
var values2 = new List<double> { 9, 7, 12 ,15, 17 };

// Make sure to add a reference to Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.dll
// and use the namespace

var application = new Application();

var worksheetFunction = application.WorksheetFunction;

var result = worksheetFunction.Correl(values1.ToArray(), values2.ToArray());

Console.Write(result); // 0.997054485501581