To determine the number of relevant clusters to retain when examining the plot of the number of clusters versus the fusion coefficient, the analyst should look for
A) significant savings in the fusion coefficient.
B) points where the curve approaches the y axis.
C) points where the curve flattens out.
D) points where the line begins to approach the x axis.
E) both a and c.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correct answers are significant savings in the fusion coefficient and points where the curve flattens out. These criteria are used to identify the "elbow" in the plot, which indicates the optimal number of clusters to retain. Significant savings in the fusion coefficient suggest a substantial reduction in within-cluster variance, and the point where the curve flattens indicates diminishing returns on adding more clusters.

To Determine the Number of Relevant Clusters to Retain When