In the context of machine learning, we train a model and test it to predict or forecast an outcome. In this chapter, we had an in-depth look at the simple yet extremely effective method of linear regression to predict a quantitative response. Later chapters will cover more advanced techniques, but many of them are mere extensions of what we have learned in this chapter. We discussed the problem of not visually inspecting the dataset and simply relying on the statistics to guide you in model selection.

With just a few lines of code, you can make powerful and insightful predictions to support decision-making. Not only is it simple and effective, but also you can include quantitative variables and interaction terms among the features. Indeed, this is a method that anyone delving into the world of machine learning must master.