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Difference Between Linear Regression and Polynomial Regression Narender Kumar Spark By {Examples}

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Explain the difference between linear regression and polynomial regression. Regression analysis is a statistical tool that is used to examine the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. Linear regression is one of the most widely used regression techniques that assumes a linear relationship between the dependent and independent variables. However, when the relationship between the variables is not linear, polynomial regression is used. In this article, we will discuss the key differences between polynomial regression and linear regression.

1. Polynomial Regression:

Polynomial regression is a type of regression analysis that is used when the relationship between the dependent and independent variables is not linear. It involves fitting a polynomial function to the data points to obtain a curve that represents the relationship between the variables.

The equation for a polynomial regression model can be written as:

Y = a + b1X + b2X^2 + … + bnx^n

The goal of polynomial regression is to find the best fit curve that represents the relationship between the variables. This curve is obtained by minimizing the sum of the squared residuals between the predicted values and the actual values.

2. Linear Regression:

Linear regression is a statistical technique used to find the linear relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. It is based on the assumption that there exists a linear relationship between the variables, and it uses a straight line to represent this relationship. The equation for a simple linear regression model can be written as:

Y = a + bX

Where Y is the dependent variable, X is the independent variable, a is the intercept and b is the slope of the line.

The goal of linear regression is to find the best fit line that represents the relationship between the variables. This line is obtained by minimizing the sum of the squared residuals between the predicted values and the actual values.

3. Difference between Linear Regression and Polynomial Regression

Here are the 15 key differences between Linear Regression and Polynomial Regression:

FeatureLinear RegressionPolynomial RegressionLinearityAssumes linear relationship between dependent and independent variablesDoes not assume linear relationshipEquationUses a straight line equation to represent the relationship between variablesUses a polynomial equation to represent the relationshipComplexitySimple, only involves fitting a straight lineMore complex, involves fitting a polynomial functionDegree of polynomialN/AThe degree of polynomial determines the complexity of the curveOverfittingLess prone to overfittingProne to overfittingAssumptionsAssumes residuals are normally distributedAssumes residuals are randomly distributedInterpretabilityEasy to interpretDifficult to interpret due to meaningless coefficientsData PointsSuitable for few data pointsSuitable for many data pointsExtrapolationSuitable for extrapolationNot suitable for extrapolationComputationQuick computationRequires more computation powerAccuracyLess accurate in modeling non-linear relationshipsMore accurate in modeling non-linear relationshipsNon-linear relationshipsNot suitable for modeling non-linear relationshipsSuitable for modeling non-linear relationshipsGoodness of FitProvides a good fit for linear relationshipsProvides a better fit for non-linear relationshipsSensitivity to outliersLess sensitive to outliersMore sensitive to outliersApplicationUsed for continuous dependent variables with linear relationshipsUsed for non-linear relationships between variablesDifference between Linear Regression and Polynomial Regression

4. Conclusion:

Linear regression and polynomial regression are both important regression techniques used in data analysis. While linear regression is appropriate for modeling linear relationships between variables, polynomial regression is used for modeling non-linear relationships. Choosing the appropriate regression model depends on the nature of the data and the research question being investigated. It is important to choose the correct model to ensure accurate results and effective decision-making.

 Explain the difference between linear regression and polynomial regression. Regression analysis is a statistical tool that is used to examine the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. Linear regression is one of the most widely used regression techniques that assumes a linear relationship between the dependent and independent variables. However,  Read More Machine Learning 

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