Classic Computer Science Problems in Java

Appendix A. Glossary

This appendix defines a selection of key terms from throughout the book.

activation function A function that transforms the output of a neuron in an artificial neural network, generally to render it capable of handling nonlinear transformations or to ensure its output value is clamped within some range (chapter 7).

acyclic A graph with no cycles (chapter 4).

admissible heuristic A heuristic for the A* search algorithm that never overestimates the cost to reach the goal (chapter 2).

artificial neural network A simulation of a biological neural network using computational tools to solve problems not easily reduced into forms amenable to traditional algorithmic approaches. Note that the operation of an artificial neural network ...