Final answer:
Regression analysis is a statistical method used to predict a numerical value, such as a student's final exam score, based on another related variable like their score on a previous exam.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of data mining task that attempts to estimate or predict a numerical value for an individual is known as regression analysis. This method is part of inferential statistics, which uses mathematical models to make predictions based on sample data. For example, in the scenario where we are trying to predict a student’s final exam score based on their performance on the second exam, regression would allow us to establish a relationship between the two variables (exam scores) and predict future outcomes.
Regression analysis operates under the premise that one value can affect another. In educational settings, such analyses help anticipate students' performance, accounting for the fact that real-life scenarios often involve estimation and approximation rather than precise values.
Coming to Example 12.5, with data on third exam scores and final exam scores, by applying regression techniques, we can predict a student's final exam score based on their third exam score. This predictive analysis is integral to statistical inference, particularly when decisions or predictions must be based on incomplete or sample data.