Decision Tree Algorithm
Decision Tree Algorithm
by Samruddhi Bobade
What is a Decision Tree?
Supervised Learning Tree-like Structure
A decision tree is a It mimics a tree, with nodes
supervised learning for features, branches for
algorithm. It is used for both decisions, and leaves for
classification and regression outcomes. For example,
tasks. predicting customer churn
involves demographics.
Predictive Power
It helps predict outcomes by navigating through decisions.
Think of it as a flowchart for data analysis.
How Does it Work?
1 Recursive Splitting
The algorithm splits data based on feature values. This process is
done recursively.
3 Information Gain
This measures the reduction in entropy after a split. It aims to
maximize homogeneity.
4 Gini Impurity
This measures the probability of incorrect classification. Lower
Gini impurity is better.
Building a Decision Tree
Select Best Attribute
Use Attribute Selection Measures (ASM). This
identifies the most impactful feature.
Repeat Process
Apply this splitting process to each child node.
Continue until leaves are formed.
Advantages of Decision Trees
Easy to Interpret
Decision trees are simple to understand. Their visual nature aids comprehension.
Non-Parametric
No assumptions are made about data distribution. This makes them flexible for various datasets.
Disadvantages of Decision Trees
Overfitting Risk Instability Solutions
Decision trees can perform poorly Small changes in the data can lead Ensemble methods like Random
on new data. They tend to learn to different trees. This makes them Forests are often used. Gradient
noise from the training data. somewhat unstable. Boosting also helps mitigate these
issues.
This happens when the model They also bias towards features
becomes too specific. with more levels. These methods combine multiple
trees for better results.
Real-World Applications
1 Credit Risk
Predicting loan defaults. Assess applicant's creditworthiness.
2 Medical Diagnosis
Identifying diseases from symptoms. Aids in patient care decisions.
3 Fraud Detection
Flagging suspicious transactions. Secures financial operations.
4 Customer Segmentation
Grouping customers by behavior. Tailor marketing strategies.
1
Powerful Algorithm
Decision trees are versatile and effective. They are a fundamental ML tool.
2
Easy to Use
They are simple to understand and implement. This makes them accessible.
3
Ensemble Solutions
Their limitations are addressed by ensemble methods. These enhance performance.
4
Future Trends
Look for integration with deep learning. This will create hybrid models.