What is a distance?
A distance, in the context of data analysis and pattern recognition, is a quantitative measure that captures the dissimilarity or similarity between objects or points in a given space. It provides a numerical representation of the extent to which two entities are separate or close to each other and allows us to objectively quantify the relationships and differences between data points so that we can systematically compare and analyze them.
The concept of distance is particularly valuable because it provides a common metric for comparing and evaluating different types of data. Whether dealing with numerical attributes, categorical variables, or even complex structures such as images or text, distances can be defined and calculated to quantify the dissimilarity between instances. By using the concept of distance, analysts and data scientists gain insight into the relationships, patterns, and structures inherent in their data.
The concept of distance finds...
