Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900) Practice Exam

What is predicting the number of vehicles across a bridge on a given day an example of?

1. Classification

2. Time-series prediction

3. Regression

4. Clustering

The correct answer is: Regression

Predicting the number of vehicles across a bridge on a given day is an example of regression because it involves estimating a continuous numerical value based on input data. In this scenario, the objective is to derive a specific quantity—namely, the count of vehicles—through analysis of various influencing factors such as historical traffic data, time of day, or day of the week. Regression models are designed to capture relationships between a dependent variable (the number of vehicles) and one or more independent variables that can influence that count. For instance, if certain weather conditions, holidays, or construction work are known to affect traffic flow, these variables can be included in the regression model to enhance prediction accuracy. When utilizing regression, the explicit aim is to predict a quantity, which is fundamentally different from classification aimed at categorizing inputs into discrete classes, clustering focusing on grouping similar data points without predefined labels, or time-series prediction concerning data points taken sequentially over time rather than yielding a point estimate for a specific occasion. Hence, regression is the most appropriate choice for this kind of prediction task.