ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

ID3 algorithm

Ok kiddo, let's talk about something called the ID3 algorithm. This algorithm helps us figure out what something is by looking at its characteristics. Let's say we have a bunch of fruits and we want to know if they are oranges or apples. How can we tell?

Well, first we look at their properties. Oranges are typically round, have a bright orange color, and a sweet taste. Apples, on the other hand, can be round or oval, have a red or green color, and a sour or sweet taste. By looking at these characteristics, we can start to tell if the fruit is an orange or an apple.

Now, imagine we have a bunch of fruits that we don't know anything about. We want to classify them as either oranges or apples, but we don't know their properties yet. This is where the ID3 algorithm comes in. It helps us figure out the most important characteristic to look at first.

The ID3 algorithm works by looking at every possible characteristic of the fruit, like its color, shape, size, and taste. It then calculates something called "entropy", which is a fancy word for how well a characteristic helps us decide if it's an orange or an apple. The lower the entropy, the more useful the characteristic is.

Let's say the algorithm determines that the color of the fruit is the most important characteristic. It will then split the fruits into two groups: those that are red or green and those that are orange. It will repeat this process with each group, looking for the most important characteristic each time. Eventually, it will create a tree-like structure that shows the most important characteristics that help us classify the fruits.

So, there you have it kiddo! The ID3 algorithm helps us classify things based on their characteristics by looking at each characteristic's entropy and creating a tree-like structure.