Syllabus Map
- Study map: Syllabus Study Map
Core Idea
- Correlation captures linear association.
- Independence means full probabilistic non-influence.
Key Point
- Independence implies zero correlation (under finite variance), but not the reverse.
Why This Matters for ML
- Feature engineering and model assumptions often confuse correlation with independence.
- Spurious correlations can mislead interpretation and degrade robustness.
- Independence assumptions appear in simplified models and require careful validation.
- This distinction helps prevent incorrect causal or predictive conclusions.