Chapter 11. Association analysis with the Apriori algorithm

A trip to the grocery store provides many examples of machine learning in action today and future uses of it. The way items are displayed, the coupons offered to you after you purchase something, and loyalty programs all are driven by massive amounts of data crunching. The store wants to get as much money as possible from you, and they certainly will use technology for this purpose.

Loyalty programs, which give the customer a discount by using a loyalty card, can give the store a glimpse at what one consumer is purchasing. If you don’t use a loyalty card, the store can also look at the credit card you used to make the purchases. If you don’t use a loyalty card and pay with cash, a store can look at the items purchased together. (For more ideas on possible uses of technology in the grocery store, see The Numerati by Stephen Baker.)

11.1. Association analysis

11.2. The Apriori principle

11.3. Finding frequent itemsets with the Apriori algorithm

11.4. Mining association rules from frequent item sets

11.5. Example: uncovering patterns in congressional voting

11.6. Example: finding similar features in poisonous mushrooms

11.7. Summary