Book Image

Bayesian Analysis with Python

Book Image

Bayesian Analysis with Python

Overview of this book

The purpose of this book is to teach the main concepts of Bayesian data analysis. We will learn how to effectively use PyMC3, a Python library for probabilistic programming, to perform Bayesian parameter estimation, to check models and validate them. This book begins presenting the key concepts of the Bayesian framework and the main advantages of this approach from a practical point of view. Moving on, we will explore the power and flexibility of generalized linear models and how to adapt them to a wide array of problems, including regression and classification. We will also look into mixture models and clustering data, and we will finish with advanced topics like non-parametrics models and Gaussian processes. With the help of Python and PyMC3 you will learn to implement, check and expand Bayesian models to solve data analysis problems.
Table of Contents (15 chapters)
Bayesian Analysis with Python
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewer
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Index

Simple linear regression


Many problems we find in science, engineering, and business are of the following form. We have a continuous variable, and by continuous we mean a variable represented using real numbers (or floats if you wish). We call this variable the dependent, predicted, or outcome variable. And we want to model how this dependent variable depends on one or more variables, which we call independent, predictor, or input variables. The independent variable can be continuous or it can be categorical. These type of problems can be modeled using linear regression. If we have only one independent variable we may use a simple linear regression model problem; if we have more than one independent variable then we may apply a multiple linear regression model. Some typical situations that linear regression models can be used in are as follows:

  • Model the relationship between factors like rain, soil salinity, and the presence/absence of fertilizer in crop productivity. Then answer questions...