AI engineering glossary · Calculus optimisation
What is function?
Function: A rule that assigns exactly one output to each allowed input. Written f(x), it describes how one quantity depends on another. Calculus studies how such rules change, and machine learning models are ultimately large rules mapping inputs to predictions.
Function: an example
f(x) = 3x + 2 maps x = 4 to 14. A model that predicts a house price in lakhs from its area in square feet is a function of that area.
Related terms
More Calculus optimisation terms
- Fundamental theorem of calculus
- Gauss-Newton method
- Genetic algorithm
- Global minimum
- Gradient
- Gradient accumulation
- Gradient checking
- Gradient clipping
Where you learn it
Function is part of the AI Engineering Program, which teaches it with notes, a hands-on lab and an exam. The first lesson is free.