Predictions
Machine learning is used to recognise patterns in past events and make predictions about future events. For better understanding of the principle in this very simple example, a prediction is made about the success of a football team (Trask, 2019):
Input data includes:
- Number of average toes per player
- Number of games won so far in % (Win/Loss ratio)
- Number of fans

Already trained artificial neural network with multiple inputs

Calculation of the weighted sum
inputs weights local prediction
(8.5 · 0.1) = 0.85 (toes)
(0.65 · 0.2) = + 0.13 (wlratio)
(1.2 · 0.0) = + 0.0 (fans)
final prediction = 0.98
The inputs represent the information and weight represents the knowledge. It is clear, that predictions cannot be 100% correct.
Reference list:
Trask, Andrew W. (2019): Grokking Deep Learning. Chapter 3. Introduction to neural pediction: forward propagation. Manning Publications Co.
Trask, Andrew W. (Sept 2018). Grokking-Deep-Learning: A Simple Neural Network Making a Prediction [Software]. Github. https://github.com/iamtrask/Grokking-Deep-Learning/blob/master/Chapter3%20-%20%20Forward%20Propagation%20-%20Intro%20to%20Neural%20Prediction.ipynb (Accessed 5 May 2024)