Multilayer Perceptron (MLP)
A Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) is a type of artificial neural network that consists of
multiple layers of nodes, where each node is a perceptron (a basic unit of computation).
In MLP, each node in a layer is connected to every node in the next layer, and each
connection has an associated weight. MLP is used for supervised learning tasks such
as classification and regression.
Key Components of MLP
1. Input Layer: Accepts input features from the dataset.
2. Hidden Layers: Intermediate layers between the input and output that learn patterns
using weights and biases.
3. Output Layer: Produces the final predictions.
4. Weights and Biases: Trainable parameters that adjust to minimize prediction error.
5. Activation Functions: Introduce non-linearity, enabling the network to model
complex relationships. Examples include ReLU, Sigmoid, and Tanh.
Training MLP Using Backpropagation
Backpropagation (short for Backpropagation of Errors) is the algorithm used for training
MLPs. It helps adjust the weights of the network to minimize the error (or loss) between the
predicted output and the actual target. The process involves two main steps:
1. Forward Pass:
○ The input is fed through the network layer by layer, and the activation values
are calculated for each layer.
○ The output of the network is produced.
2. Backward Pass (Backpropagation):
○ Compute the error at the output layer (difference between predicted output
and actual target).
○ The error is propagated backward through the network using the chain rule of
calculus to compute the gradient of the loss with respect to each weight.
○ Gradients are used to update the weights of the network in the direction that
reduces the error (typically using gradient descent).
3. The weight updates are performed iteratively until the network converges to an
optimal set of weights.
Key Features
● Fully Connected Layers: Each neuron in a layer connects to all neurons in the next
layer.
● Non-linearity: Activation functions enable MLPs to learn complex patterns.
● Feedforward Architecture: Information flows in one direction, from input to output.
How it Works
1. Forward Propagation: Data flows through the layers, and outputs are calculated
using weighted sums and activation functions.
2. Loss Function: Measures the difference between predicted and actual outputs.
3. Backpropagation: Adjusts weights and biases using gradients to reduce loss.
4. Optimization: Algorithms like SGD or Adam refine the model iteratively.
working of a Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP)
Here’s a concise explanation of the working of a Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), focusing
on its key mechanisms:
Summary of MLP Workflow:
1. Initialization: Randomly initialize the weights and biases.
2. Forward Pass: Pass the input through the network, calculate activations, and get the
output.
3. Loss Calculation: Compute the loss/error between predicted and true values.
4. Backpropagation: Calculate the gradients and propagate the error back through the
network.
5. Update Weights: Adjust the weights and biases using the gradients to minimize the
loss.
6. Repeat: Continue the process for multiple epochs until the model converges.
Through this process, the MLP learns to map input features to the correct output by
adjusting its weights and biases to minimize prediction errors.
Applications of MLP:
● Image classification
● Natural language processing
● Regression analysis
● Forecasting problems
Linear Separability Issue
The Linear Separability issue arises when a dataset cannot be separated into distinct
classes using a single straight line (or hyperplane in higher dimensions). This limitation is
common in simple linear models like Perceptrons or Linear Classifiers, which rely on
finding such a linear boundary to classify data.
What is Linear Separability?
A dataset is linearly separable if there exists a straight line (or hyperplane) that divides the
feature space into distinct regions, each corresponding to a specific class. For instance:
● In 2D, the decision boundary is a line.
● In 3D, the decision boundary is a plane.
● In higher dimensions, it is a hyperplane.
The Issue
● Non-linearly separable data: When data points of different classes are mixed or
have overlapping distributions, linear models fail to create an accurate decision
boundary.
● Example: XOR problem, where points cannot be separated by a single line in 2D
space.
How MLP Addresses This Issue
Multi-Layer Perceptrons solve the linear separability issue by introducing:
1. Hidden Layers: Allow the network to capture complex patterns and relationships.
2. Non-linear Activation Functions: Enable the model to transform the input space
into a higher-dimensional feature space where the data can become linearly
separable.
This ability to overcome the linear separability limitation is what makes MLPs powerful for
solving complex problems.
