Entropy Split is a method used in decision tree algorithms to determine the best feature to split the data at each node. It is based on the concept of entropy, which measures the impurity or disorder in a dataset. The goal is to minimize entropy after the split, leading to more homogeneous subsets.
Mathematically, the entropy of a dataset can be defined as:
where is the proportion of class in the dataset and is the number of classes. When evaluating a potential split on a feature, the weighted average of the entropies of the resulting subsets is calculated. The feature that results in the largest reduction in entropy, or information gain, is selected for the split. This method ensures that the decision tree is built in a way that maximizes the information extracted from the data.
Start your personalized study experience with acemate today. Sign up for free and find summaries and mock exams for your university.