Assignment: Algorithm Comparison
Objective:
This assignment aims to help students understand the specific scenarios where certain
machine learning algorithms—Logistic Regression, K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN),
Decision Tree, and Support Vector Machine (SVM)—are most appropriate. Students
will explore the strengths, limitations, and applicability of each algorithm for various
datasets.
Part 1: Algorithm Overview
1. Logistic Regression
How it Works:
Logistic Regression is a statistical model used for binary classification tasks. It
predicts the probability of an input belonging to one of two categories using a
sigmoid function to map predictions to class probabilities.
Strengths:
a) Simple to implement and interpret.
b) Suitable for linearly separable data and requires less training time compared
to other models.
Limitations:
a) Ineffective for non-linear data.
b) Highly sensitive to outliers, which can significantly affect its performance.
2. K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN)
How it Works:
KNN is a distance-based algorithm that classifies a data point by analyzing the
class of its k nearest neighbors, calculated using distance metrics like
Euclidean or Manhattan distances.
Strengths:
a) Easy to understand and implement.
b) Can be used for both classification and regression, particularly effective for
small datasets.
Limitations:
a) Performance decreases with larger datasets as it becomes computationally
expensive.
b) The algorithm's accuracy depends heavily on the choice of k.
3. Decision Tree
How it Works:
Decision Trees partition the dataset into subsets based on feature values using
metrics like Gini impurity, entropy, and information gain. The process creates
a tree-like structure for decision-making.
Strengths:
a) Intuitive and easy to visualize, aiding in interpretability.
b) Handles both numerical and categorical data effectively.
Limitations:
a) Prone to overfitting if not pruned.
b) Sensitive to small changes in the data, which can result in different tree
structures.
4. Support Vector Machine (SVM)
How it Works:
SVM identifies the optimal hyperplane that separates data points from
different classes in high-dimensional space, effectively handling complex
relationships.
Strengths:
a) Performs well with high-dimensional and complex datasets.
b) Can handle non-linear relationships using kernel functions and avoids
overfitting in most cases.
Limitations:
a) Computationally intensive and memory-demanding.
b) Difficult to interpret results compared to simpler models.
Part 2: Application Scenarios
1. High-Dimensional Data
For datasets with a high number of features, Support Vector Machine (SVM) is the
best choice. Its ability to manage irrelevant features effectively and find optimal
hyperplanes makes it suitable for high-dimensional data. It also avoids overfitting and
performs well with large, complex datasets.
2. Imbalanced Dataset
For imbalanced datasets, Logistic Regression is a practical option. It is simple to
implement, interpretable, and often used for tasks like fraud detection and rare disease
prediction. Logistic Regression can address class imbalance by adjusting class
weights, making it efficient for binary classification with limited training time.
3. Small Dataset with Many Features
When working with a small dataset that has numerous features, Support Vector
Machine (SVM) is an excellent choice. Its ability to detect complex patterns without
requiring a large amount of data, coupled with its resistance to overfitting, ensures
robust performance.
4. Non-linear Data Separation
For datasets that require non-linear separation, Decision Tree is well-suited. Its
recursive splitting technique helps capture complex patterns, and its tree structure
makes it easy to interpret. Additionally, it can handle both numerical and categorical
data effectively.
5. Dataset with Noise
When dealing with noisy datasets, Decision Tree is preferable. It reduces the impact
of noise by selecting optimal splits based on relevant features. Techniques like
pruning further enhance its performance by mitigating overfitting and improving
generalization.
