Cluster Analysis
Cluster analysis is a technique used in data science to divide a dataset into groups of similar items. The goal of cluster analysis is to identify groups with the greatest similarity within each group and the greatest difference between the groups. The result of the analysis is known as clusters, and the process is known as clustering.
K-Means Clustering
K-Means clustering is a widely used clustering algorithm. It is an unsupervised machine learning algorithm that identifies groups of similar items within a dataset by minimizing the sum of squared distances between the items within each group and the centroid of that group.
The K in K-Means Clustering refers to the number of groups or clusters that we want to identify within the dataset. The algorithm works by first randomly assigning K number of centroids, which act as the center of each cluster. Then, it iteratively assigns each item in the dataset to the closest centroid, recalculates the centroid of each cluster using the mean of all the items within the group, and repeats the process until the centroids no longer change.
Choosing the Optimal K
Choosing the optimal K is an essential step in K-Means Clustering. The optimal K will vary depending on the dataset and the problem that you are trying to solve. Choosing a value of K that is too small will lead to large, heterogeneous clusters, while choosing a value of K that is too large will result in small, homogeneous clusters.
There are several methods to determine the optimal value of K, including visually inspecting the resulting clusters, using the Elbow method, Silhouette method and Gap statistic method. The Elbow method compares the sum of squared distances of each item from their corresponding centroid across multiple values of K. The optimal K is the point where the reduction in the sum of squared distances begins to level off. The Silhouette method uses a combination of mean intra-cluster distance and mean nearest-cluster distance to determine an index of how well each item fits in its cluster. The Gap statistic method compares the log of intra-cluster dispersion to its expectation under a reference null distribution created from random data.
Applications of K-Means Clustering
K-Means Clustering has numerous applications in various fields. Some of the common applications are: If you wish to expand your knowledge further on the subject, don’t miss this carefully selected external resource we’ve prepared to complement your reading. k means clustering https://www.analyticsvidhya.com/blog/2019/08/comprehensive-guide-k-means-clustering/.
K-Means Clustering is just one of many clustering algorithms used in data science. Understanding the algorithm’s strengths, weaknesses and its various applications is essential in selecting and implementing the appropriate algorithm for the problem you are trying to solve. With the increasing amount of data being generated daily, clustering algorithms will continue to play a crucial role in making sense of large datasets and extracting meaningful insights from them.
Wish to expand your knowledge? Visit the related posts we’ve set aside for you:
