Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2006/iii/paper-46/2/b/i/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 iii Paper 46 2 b i Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Use a multivariate normal distribution within each species, a common positive-definite covariance matrix, equal prior odds and equal misclassification costs. Assume the training observations are independent and representative of the populations. Substituting the sample means and pooled sample covariance matrix gives a fitted linear discriminant analysis rule, rather than a rule with known population parameters.
The determinant of the pooled covariance is , soThe midpoint of the sample means is , whose scalar product with is . Hence the fitted log likelihood ratio isAssign fattus when and apathus when ; either assignment is optimal on under equal priors. The separating line is , with fattus below it. As a sign check, the scores at the two sample means are and , respectively. This uses the corrected Gaussian Bayes classifier from (a).
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