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Deep Learning with TensorFlow: How Does Perceptron’s Weighted Sum and Bias Determine Binary Classification?

Why is the Sign of the Net Input Crucial for Perceptron Class Assignment in TensorFlow?

Explore the foundational principles of perceptron learning for the TensorFlow Developer exam. Understand how a perceptron, the basic unit of a neural network, uses the sign of the weighted sum of its inputs plus a bias to perform binary classification.

Question

In perceptron learning, what determines the class assignment of an input?

A. The size of the dataset
B. The bias being always set to zero
C. The sign of the weighted sum of inputs plus bias
D. The number of hidden layers in the network

Answer

C. The sign of the weighted sum of inputs plus bias

Explanation

Perceptron output depends on whether this sum crosses a threshold. This is the fundamental mechanism by which a perceptron classifies data.

Perceptron Classification Mechanism

A perceptron is the simplest form of an artificial neural network and serves as a linear binary classifier. Its operation involves calculating a single value, known as the net input or activation, which is the sum of its inputs multiplied by their corresponding weights, plus a bias term.

The perceptron’s final output, which determines the class assignment, is produced by passing this net input z through a step activation function. This function typically outputs one value (e.g., 1) if the input z is above a certain threshold (commonly 0), and another value (e.g., 0 or -1) if it is not. Therefore, the sign (positive or negative) of the weighted sum plus bias directly dictates the resulting class.​

Analysis of Incorrect Options

A. The size of the dataset: The dataset’s size is critical for training the model and helping it learn the optimal weights and bias, but it does not determine the class assignment for an individual input during prediction.​

B. The bias being always set to zero: The bias is a learnable parameter that allows the decision boundary to be shifted, increasing the model’s flexibility. A perceptron’s decision boundary must pass through the origin if the bias is zero, which limits its ability to separate data that is not linearly separable through the origin.​

D. The number of hidden layers in the network: By definition, a perceptron is a single-layer neural network and does not contain any hidden layers. Neural networks that contain one or more hidden layers are referred to as Multi-Layer Perceptrons (MLPs) or deep neural networks.​

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