The truncatedSVD as a method for regularization

The truncated singular value decomposition (SVD) is considered as a method for regularization of ill-posed linear least squares problems. In particular, the truncated SVD solution is compared with the usual regularized solution. Necessary conditions are defined in which the two methods will yield similar results. This investigation suggests the truncated SVD as a favorable alternative to standard-form regularization in cases of ill-conditioned matrices with well-determined numerical rank.This work was carried out while the author visited the Dept. of Computer Science, Stanford University, California, U.S.A., and was supported in part by National Science Foundation Grant Number DCR 8412314, by a Fulbright Supplementary Grant, and by the Danish Space Board.