Why y-intercept is negative

Question

Hello

 

I m doing multiple regression analysis and i conclude it by getting negative y-intercept.

 

The dependent variable in the data set is total weekly person trip from one city to other different cities and the independent variables are the no of urban population of the city, distance from one city to another city, total per capita income, literacy rate of the city, no of institutions in that city, no of hospital beds.... etc.

 

So why I am getting the negative y-intercept and what can I conclude from negative y-intercept?

 

Plz give some suggestions...

 

 

Answer 1

There is nothing that says the y-intercept can't be negative. The y-intercept is the value of the dependent variable when all the independent variables take on a zero value; assuming all the calculations are correct.

 

If the dependent variable is measuring the  number of trips taken from one city to the others a negative might indicate trips in the other direction (to the dependent city).

 

Without taking a good look at the data that's the best interpretation I can come up with.