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Machine Learning Cheat Sheet

In this cheat sheet, you'll have a guide around the top machine learning
algorithms, their advantages and disadvantages, and use-cases.

Contents Apr 13, 2022 · 8 min read

Richie Cotton
Webinar & podcast host, course and book author, spends all day chit-chatting about data

TO P I C S

Machine Learning

Data Science

When working with machine learning, it's easy to try them all out without understanding
what each model does, and when to use them. In this cheat sheet, you'll find a handy guide

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describing the most widely used machine learning models, their advantages, disadvantages,
and some key use-cases.

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Supervised Learning
Supervised learning models are models that map inputs to outputs, and attempt to
extrapolate patterns learned in past data on unseen data. Supervised learning models can
be either regression models, where we try to predict a continuous variable, like stock prices
—or classification models, where we try to predict a binary or multi-class variable, like
whether a customer will churn or not. In the section below, we'll explain two popular types of
supervised learning models: linear models, and tree-based models.

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Linear Models
In a nutshell, linear models create a best-fit line to predict unseen data. Linear models imply
that outputs are a linear combination of features. In this section, we'll specify commonly
used linear models in machine learning, their advantages, and disadvantages.

Algorithm Description Applications Advantages Disadvantages

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1. Explainabl 1. Assumes
e method linearity
1. Stock
between
Price 2. Interpreta
inputs and
Prediction ble results
output
by its
A simple algorithm 2. Predicting
output 2. Sensitive
that models a linear housing
Linear relationship between coefficient to outliers
prices
Regression inputs and a
3. Faster to 3. Can
continuous numerical 3. Predicting
train than underfit
output variable customer
other with small,
lifetime
machine high-
value
learning dimension
models al data

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1. Interpreta
ble and
explainabl
e 1. Assumes
linearity
2. Less prone between
1. Predicting to inputs and
A simple algorithm
credit risk overfitting outputs
that models a linear score when
Logistic relationship between using 2. Can
2. Customer
Regression inputs and a overfit
churn regularizat
categorical output (1 with small,
prediction ion
or 0)
high-
3. Applicable dimension
for multi- al data
class
prediction
s

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1. Less prone
to
overfitting

2. Best 1. All the

1. Predictive
suited predictors
Part of the regression maintenan
family — it penalizes where are kept in
ce for
features that have low data the final
automobil
predictive outcomes suffer model
Ridge es
by shrinking their
Regression from 2. Doesn't
coefficients closer to 2. Sales multicollin perform
zero. Can be used for
revenue earity
classification or feature
prediction
regression
3. Explainabl selection
e&
interpreta
ble

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1. Less prone
1. Predicting to
housing overfitting 1. Can lead
Part of the regression
prices to poor
family — it penalizes 2. Can
interpreta
features that have low
2. Predicting handle
predictive outcomes
bility as it
Lasso clinical high-
by shrinking their can keep
Regression outcomes dimension
coefficients to zero. highly
based on al data
Can be used for correlated
classification or health 3. No need variables
regression data for feature
selection

Tree-based models
In a nutshell, tree-based models use a series of "if-then" rules to predict from decision trees.
In this section, we'll specify commonly used linear models in machine learning, their
advantages, and disadvantages.

Algorithm Description Applications Advantages Disadvantages

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1. Customer 1. Explaina
churn ble and
prediction interpret 1. Prone to
Decision Tree models
make decision rules on 2. Credit able overfitting
Decision the features to produce score 2. Can 2. Sensitive
Tree predictions. It can be
modeling handle to outliers
used for classification or
regression 3. Disease missing
prediction values

1. Reduces
overfittin 1. Training
1. Credit
g complexit
score
y can be
An ensemble learning modeling 2. Higher
high
Random method that combines accuracy
2. Predicting
Forests the output of multiple compare 2. Not very
decision trees
housing
d to interpreta
prices
other ble
models

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1. Better
accuracy
compare 1. Sensitive
d to to outliers
other and can
1. Predicting
regressio therefore
car
n models cause
Gradient Boosting emissions
overfitting
Regression employs 2. It can
Gradient 2. Predicting
boosting to make handle 2. Computat
Boosting ride-
predictive models from multicolli ionally
Regression hailing
an ensemble of weak nearity expensive
predictive learners fare
It can and has
amount
handle high
non- complexit
linear y
relations
hips

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1. Hyperpar
1. Provides ameter
1. Churn accurate tuning
prediction results can be
Gradient Boosting
complex
algorithm that is efficient 2. Claims 2. Captures
XGBoost & flexible. Can be used processing non- 2. Does not
for both classification and in linear perform
regression tasks
insurance relations well on
hips sparse
datasets

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1. Can
handle 1. Can
large overfit
1. Predicting amounts due to
flight time of data leaf-wise
for airlines
2. Computa splitting
A gradient boosting
2. Predicting tional and high
framework that is
LightGBM cholesterol efficient sensitivity
designed to be more
Regressor levels
efficient than other & fast 2. Hyperpar
implementations based on training ameter
health speed tuning
data
3. Low can be
memory complex
usage

Unsupervised Learning
Unsupervised learning is about discovering general patterns in data. The most popular
example is clustering or segmenting customers and users. This type of segmentation is
generalizable and can be applied broadly, such as to documents, companies, and genes.
Unsupervised learning consists of clustering models, that learn how to group similar data
points together, or association algorithms, that group different data points based on pre-
defined rules.

Clustering models
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Algorithm Description Applications Advantages Disadvantages

1. Requires
the
1. Scales to expected
large number of
1. Customer datasets clusters
segmentati 2. Simple to from the
K-Means is the most on beginning
implemen
widely used clustering
K-Means approach—it determines K 2. Recommen t and 2. Has
clusters based on dation interpret troubles
euclidean distances systems with
3. Results in
tight varying
clusters cluster
sizes and
densities

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1. There is 1. Doesn’t
no need always
to specify result in
1. Fraud the the best
A "bottom-up" approach
detection number clustering
where each data point is of clusters
2. Document 2. Not
Hierarchical treated as its own cluster
clustering 2. The suitable
Clustering —and then the closest
two clusters are merged
based on resulting for large
together iteratively similarity dendrogr datasets
am is due to
informativ high
e complexity

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1. Computes
a
probabilit
y for an
observati
on 1. Requires
belonging complex
to a tuning
1. Customer
segmentati cluster 2. Requires
A probabilistic model for on 2. Can setting the
Gaussian
modeling normally identify number of
Mixture 2. Recommen
distributed clusters within
overlappi expected
Models dation
a dataset mixture
systems ng
clusters componen
ts or
3. More clusters
accurate
results
compared
to K-
means

Association

Algorithm Description Applications Advantages Disadvantages

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1. Results
are 1. Generates
intuitive many
1. Product and uninteresti
placements Interpreta ng
ble itemsets
Rule based approach that 2. Recommen
identifies the most dation 2. Exhaustive 2. Computati
Apriori frequent itemset in a given engines approach onally and
Algorithm dataset where prior as it finds memory
knowledge of frequent 3. Promotion all rules intensive.
itemset properties is used optimizatio based on Results in
n the many
confidenc overlappin
e and g item sets
support

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