Category Archives: Python
Random Forest vs XGBoost: Which One to Use? Examples
Understanding the differences between XGBoost and Random Forest machine learning algorithm is crucial as it guides the selection of the most appropriate model for a given problem. Random Forest, with its simplicity and parallel computation, is ideal for quick model development and when dealing with large datasets, whereas XGBoost, with its sequential tree building and regularization, excels in achieving higher accuracy, especially in scenarios where overfitting is a concern. This knowledge can be helpful to balance between computational efficiency and predictive performance, tailor models to specific data characteristics, and optimize their approach for either rapid prototyping or precision-focused tasks. In this blog, we will learn the difference between Random Forest …
Random Forest Classifier – Sklearn Python Example
Last updated: 13th Dec, 2023 A random forest classifier is an ensemble machine learning method which is used for classification problems, and operates by constructing a multitude of decision trees during training and predicting the class label (of the data). In general, Random Forest is popular due to its high accuracy, robustness to overfitting, ability to handle large datasets with numerous features, and its effectiveness for both classification and regression tasks. Its versatility and ease of use make it widely applicable across various domains. Note that Random Forest and Decision Tree classification algorithms are different, although Random Forest is built upon the concept of Decision Trees. In this post, you …
How to Add Rows & Columns to Pandas Dataframe
Last updated: 12th Dec, 2023 Pandas is a popular data manipulation library in Python, widely used for data analysis and data science tasks. Pandas Dataframe is a two-dimensional labeled data structure with columns of potentially different types, similar to a spreadsheet or SQL table. One of the common tasks in data manipulation when working with Pandas package in Python is how to add new columns and rows to an existing and empty dataframe. It might seem like a trivial task, but choosing the right method to add a row to a dataframe as well as adding a column can significantly impact the performance and efficiency of your code. In this …
Plot Decision Boundary in Logistic Regression: Python Example
Plotting the decision boundary is a valuable tool for understanding, debugging, and improving machine learning classification models, especially for Logistic Regression. Plotting the decision boundary provides a visual assessment of model complexity, fit, and class separation capability. It enables identifying overfitting and underfitting based on gaps between boundary and data. Comparing decision boundary plots of different models allows direct visual evaluation of their relative performance in separating classes when working with classification problems. For linear models like logistic regression, it specifically helps tune regularization and model complexity to prevent overfitting the training data. Simple linear models like logistic regression will have linear decision boundaries. More complex models like SVM may …
Gradient Boosting vs Adaboost Algorithm: Python Example
In this blog post we will delve into the intricacies of two powerful ensemble learning techniques: Gradient Boosting and Adaboost. Both methods are widely recognized for their ability to improve prediction accuracy in machine learning tasks, but they approach the problem in distinct ways. Gradient Boosting is a sophisticated machine learning approach that constructs models in a series, each new model specifically targeting the errors of its predecessor. This technique employs the gradient descent algorithm for error minimization and excels in managing diverse datasets, particularly those with non-linear patterns. Conversely, Adaboost (Adaptive Boosting) is a distinct ensemble strategy that amalgamates numerous simple models to form a robust one. Its defining …
Feature Importance & Random Forest – Sklearn Python Example
Last updated: 9th Dec, 2023 When building machine learning classification and regression models, understanding which features most significantly impact your model’s predictions can be as crucial as the predictions themselves. This post delves into the concept of feature importance in the context of one of the most popular algorithms available – the Random Forest. Whether used for classification or regression tasks, Random Forest not only offers robust and accurate predictions but also provides insightful metrics to find the most important features in your dataset. You will learn about how to use Random Forest regression and classification algorithms for determining feature importance using Sklearn Python code example. It is very important to …
Random Forest vs AdaBoost: Difference, Python Example
Last updated: 8th Dec, 2023 In this post, you will learn about the key differences between the AdaBoost and the Random Forest machine learning algorithm. Random Forest and AdaBoost algorithms can be used for both regression and classification problems. Both the algorithms are ensemble learning algorithms that construct a collection of trees for prediction. Random Forest builds multiple decision trees using diverse variables and employs bagging for data sampling and predictions. AdaBoost, on the other hand, creates an ensemble of weak learners, often in the form of decision stumps (simple trees with one node and two leaves). AdaBoost iteratively adjusts these stumps to concentrate on mispredicted areas, often leading to higher …
Decoding Bagging in Random Forest: Examples
This blog provides an overview of how bagging, or bootstrap aggregating, improves the effectiveness of Random Forest machine learning models. You will learn about the process of creating multiple data subsets through bootstrap sampling, building individual decision trees for each subset, and how this diversity among trees reduces overfitting, leading to more accurate and robust random forest models. The post also explains how the aggregation of predictions from these trees ensures a balanced and less biased overall model. You also get to learn based on Python code example. What is Bagging? Before we delve into Random Forest, it’s crucial to understand the concept of bagging. Bagging is a general ensemble …
Logistic Regression Customer Churn Prediction: Example
In today’s fast-paced and highly competitive business world, spanning across industries like telecommunications, finance, e-commerce, and more, the ability to predict and understand customer churn has emerged as a critical component of strategic business management. Whether it’s a telecom giant grappling with subscriber turnover, a fintech company aiming to retain its user base, or an e-commerce platform trying to reduce shopping cart abandonment, the implications of churn are vast and deeply impactful. This is where the role of logistic regression, a potent and versatile statistical method, comes into play. This blog delves into different aspects of training a logistic regression machine learning model for churn prediction, highlighting its universality and …
GLM vs Linear Regression: Difference, Examples
Linear Regression and Generalized Linear Models (GLM) are both statistical methods used for understanding the relationship between variables. Understanding the difference between GLM and Linear Regression is essential for accurate model selection, tailored to data types and research questions. It’s crucial for predicting diverse outcomes, ensuring valid statistical inference, and is vital in interdisciplinary research. In this blog, we will learn about the differences between Linear Regression and GLM by delving into their distinct characteristics, suitable applications, and the importance of choosing the right model based on data type and research objective. What’s the difference between GLM & Linear Regression? Linear Regression and Generalized Linear Models (GLM) are two closely …
MinMaxScaler vs StandardScaler – Python Examples
Last updated: 7th Dec, 2023 Feature scaling is an essential part of exploratory data analysis (EDA), when working with machine learning models. Feature scaling helps to standardize the range of features and ensure that each feature (continuous variable) contributes equally to the analysis. Two popular feature scaling techniques used in Python are MinMaxScaler and StandardScaler. In this blog, we will learn about the concepts and differences between these feature scaling techniques with the help of Python code examples, highlight their advantages and disadvantages, and provide guidance on when to use MinMaxScaler vs StandardScaler. Note that these are classes provided by sklearn.preprocessing module. As a data scientist, you will need to …
Lasso Regression in Machine Learning: Python Example
Last updated: 6th Dec, 2023 Lasso regression, sometimes referred to as L1 regularization, is a technique in linear regression that incorporates regularization to curb overfitting and enhance the performance of machine learning models. It works by adding a penalty term to the cost function that encourages the model to select only the most important features and set the coefficients of less important features to zero. This makes Lasso regression a popular method for feature selection and high-dimensional data analysis. In this post, you will learn concepts, formula, advantages and limitations of Lasso regression along with Python Sklearn examples. The other two similar forms of regularized linear regression are Ridge regression and …
Logistic Regression in Machine Learning: Python Example
Last updated: 6th Dec, 2023 In this blog post, we will discuss the logistic regression machine learning algorithm with a python example. Logistic regression is a regression algorithm specifically designed to estimate the probability of an event occurring. For example, it can be used in the medical field to predict the likelihood of a patient developing a certain disease based on various health indicators, such as age, weight, and blood pressure. It is often used in machine learning applications. In this blog, we will learn about the logistic regression algorithm, use python to implement logistic regression model with IRIS dataset. What is Logistic Regression? The logistic regression algorithm is a …
Using GridSearchCV with Logistic Regression Models: Examples
GridSearchCV method is a one of the popular technique for optimizing logistic regression models, automating the search for the best hyperparameters like regularization strength and type. It enhances model performance by incorporating cross-validation, ensuring robustness and generalizability to new data. This method saves time and ensures objective model selection, making it an essential technique in various domains where logistic regression is applied. Its integration with the scikit-learn library (sklearn.model_selection.GridSearchCV) simplifies its use in existing data pipelines, making it a valuable asset for both novice and experienced machine learning practitioners. How is GridSearchCV used with Logistic Regression? GridSearchCV is a technique used in machine learning for hyperparameter tuning. It is a …
Handling Class Imbalance in Machine Learning: Python Example
Techniques for Handling Class Imbalance Class imbalance may not always impact performance, and using imbalance-specific methods can sometimes worsen results. Xu-Ying Liu, Jianxin Wu, and Zhi-Hua Zhou, Exploratory Undersampling for Class-Imbalance Learning Above said, there are different techniques such as the following for handling class imbalance when training machine learning models with datasets having imbalanced classes. Python packages such as Imbalanced Learn can be used to apply techniques related to under-sampling majority classes, upsampling minority classes, and SMOTE. In this post, techniques related to using class weight will be used for tackling class imbalance. How to create a Sample Dataset having Class Imbalance? In this section, you will learn about how to create an …
Handling Class Imbalance using Sklearn Resample
Last updated: 5th Dec, 2023 The class imbalance problem in machine learning occurs when the classes in a dataset are not represented equally, leading to a significant difference in the number of instances for different classes. This imbalance can cause a classification model to be biased towards the majority class, resulting in poor performance on the minority class. Thus, the class imbalance hinders data scientists by challenging the development of accurate and fair models, as the skewed distribution can lead to misleading training predictions / outcomes and reduced effectiveness in real-world applications where minority classes are critical. In this post, you will learn about how to tackle class imbalance issue …
I found it very helpful. However the differences are not too understandable for me