Linear regression
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All 5 Flashcards — Linear regression
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Question
What does linear regression predict?
Answer
A **continuous** value, by fitting $y = mx + c$ through the data.
Question
How is the best line chosen?
Answer
By minimising the **sum of squared residuals** — least squares. Squaring stops errors cancelling and punishes large ones heavily.
Question
What does the gradient mean?
Answer
The change in the predicted value **per unit** of the input — for example price per square metre. It is the interpretable part of the model.
Question
Why is extrapolation dangerous?
Answer
The line continues forever but reality may not. The model has no notion of the range it was trained on and reports **no uncertainty**.
Question
Regression or classification?
Answer
"**How much?**" is regression — a number on a scale. "**Which one?**" is classification — a category.
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Topic 4.3 hub
Machine learning approaches
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