TRUE POSITIVE Meaning and
Definition
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True positive is a term commonly used in statistics, data analysis, and various scientific fields to describe a correctly identified positive outcome or observation in a given test or study. It refers to a situation where the test or model correctly predicts the presence or occurrence of a specific condition or event.
In binary classification, such as medical diagnoses or quality control, the term true positive denotes the accurate identification of an individual or item having a particular attribute or condition. In other words, it signifies that the test correctly indicates that a positive case exists when it actually does.
For instance, in a medical test for a specific disease, a true positive result would mean that a patient is correctly identified as having the disease, based on the test's outcome and subsequent analysis. It implies that the diagnostic procedure successfully detects the condition in question.
The true positive rate, also known as sensitivity or recall, is a key performance metric that quantifies the proportion of actual positive cases correctly identified by a test or model. It is calculated by dividing the number of true positives by the sum of true positives and false negatives.
The concept of true positive is essential in evaluating the performance, accuracy, and reliability of tests, classifiers, algorithms, or predictive models. It helps assess their ability to correctly identify positive instances and aids in determining their effectiveness in practical applications.
Etymology of TRUE POSITIVE
The word "true positive" is a term commonly used in statistics, particularly in the context of hypothesis testing and binary classification. The etymology of the term can be understood by analyzing its individual components.
1. True: The term "true" originates from the Old English word "trēowe", which means genuine, faithful, or loyal. It can also be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "trewwjaz". Over time, it has retained its meaning of being accurate, correct, or in accordance with reality.
2. Positive: The word "positive" derives from the Latin word "positivus", which itself comes from the verb "ponere", meaning to lay down, place, or set. In this context, "positive" is used to denote the presence or affirmation of a certain condition or attribute.
