Function approximation

Function approximation is like trying to get an answer to a math problem without actually doing the math. For example, say you want to figure out how many jelly beans are in a jar. You could take out each bean, count it, and figure out the answer, but that would take a long time. Function approximation is like making an educated guess about how many jelly beans are in the jar without actually counting them. You might estimate how big the jar is and how many might fit in it. Then you would use that information to come up with an approximate number.