Weighted
Candlefocus EditorWeighted in mathematics is a system of assigning values to components in a set of data in order to affect the overall outcome. Weighted averages are one of the most common uses of the technique. In a weighted average, the data points are assigned a numerical value. These numbers are then used to calculate the resulting weighted average. For example, if an average of three temperatures is desired but one of the temperatures is much lower than the other two, a higher weight could be applied to the higher temperatures to prevent the lower temperature from overly influencing the average.
Weighted is also used in engineering and computer science. For example, in transit networks, weighted algorithms are often used to minimize the total time or cost of travel between given points. The length, speed limit, and terrain of each individual segment is taken into consideration to give the segments a numerical weight. The shortest, fastest, or least uncomfortable path of travel is then calculated using these weighted values.
In computer science, weighting can be used to adjust the reliability and accuracy of results of algorithms. For example, many machine learning algorithms assign weights to inputted data. This allows the algorithm to prioritize certain data points in order to achieve a desired outcome.
Weighting can be used in numerous other fields, as well as in everyday applications like tailoring search results, assigning benefits in a point system, or generating random numbers. Although weighted is a relatively common concept, its complexity can vary greatly depending on the application. Therefore, it is important to understand the system in detail and consider all possible effects it could have on the results.