Dependency network (graphical model)

Have you ever played with building blocks? Imagine you have a big pile of different-colored blocks, each with a different shape. Let's say you want to build a tower, but you can only stack blocks that fit together. For example, a square block can only go on top of another square block, and a round block can only go on top of another round block.

Now imagine that different blocks have different relationships with each other. Some blocks can only be stacked if another specific block is already in place. This is kind of like a "dependency network" or a "graphical model."

In the same way, a dependency network shows how different things are related to each other. In a graph, each thing is represented as a node, and the relationships between them are represented by lines or arrows.

For example, let's say you're trying to predict the weather. You might have different factors that influence it, like temperature, humidity, and air pressure. Each of these factors could be represented as a node in your dependency network. Then, you would draw lines or arrows between the nodes to show how they're related. For example, high temperature might lead to low humidity, which could then lead to high air pressure.

By looking at this network, you can start to understand how each factor contributes to the overall outcome (in this case, the weather). You can also use it to make predictions or test different scenarios.