objective function
nounUK /əbˈdʒɛktɪv ˈfʌŋkʃən/
US /əbˈdʒɛktɪv ˈfʌŋkʃən/
A goal that a computer or math problem tries to make as big or as small as possible.
The program adjusts the numbers until the objective function reaches its lowest value.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. In machine learning, the formula that measures how wrong a model's predictions are so training can reduce the error.
The training loop minimizes the objective function by updating the weights each step.
3. In economics, a mathematical expression representing what a decision-maker wants to maximize, such as profit or utility.
The firm's objective function combines revenue and production costs.
4. In operations research, the quantity being optimized in a linear program, such as total shipping cost.
We wrote the objective function as the sum of shipping costs for every route.