Which statement about outliers is true?

outliers should be part of the training dataset but should not be present in the test data
outliers should be identified and removed from a dataset
the nature of the problem determines how outliers are used
outliers should be part of the test dataset but should not be present in the training data

The correct answer is: C. the nature of the problem determines how outliers are used.

Outliers are data points that are significantly different from the rest of the data. They can be caused by errors in data collection, measurement, or processing. Outliers can also be legitimate data points that represent unusual or rare events.

The way that outliers are handled depends on the nature of the problem being solved. In some cases, outliers can be ignored. In other cases, they can be removed from the data set. In still other cases, they can be used to identify patterns or trends in the data.

For example, if you are trying to predict the price of a house, you might want to remove outliers from your data set. This is because outliers can skew the results of your model. However, if you are trying to identify fraud, you might want to keep outliers in your data set. This is because outliers can be a sign of fraudulent activity.

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to remove outliers is up to the analyst. The analyst should consider the nature of the problem, the data set, and the desired results before making a decision.

Here is a brief explanation of each option:

  • Option A: Outliers should be part of the training dataset but should not be present in the test data. This is not always the case. Outliers can be used to identify patterns or trends in the data. If they are removed from the data set, these patterns or trends may be missed.
  • Option B: Outliers should be identified and removed from a dataset. This is not always the best approach. Outliers can be used to identify patterns or trends in the data. If they are removed from the data set, these patterns or trends may be missed.
  • Option C: The nature of the problem determines how outliers are used. This is the correct answer. The way that outliers are handled depends on the nature of the problem being solved.
  • Option D: Outliers should be part of the test dataset but should not be present in the training data. This is not always the case. Outliers can be used to identify patterns or trends in the data. If they are removed from the data set, these patterns or trends may be missed.