LearnThatStack Ace your next interview
Model Evaluation & Validation · question
Question 1 of 43

What is the difference between precision and recall, and how do you compute them?

beginner
← All Model Evaluation & Validation questions
Re-explain

Precision asks how many of your positive predictions were correct. Recall asks how many of the real positives you actually caught. Both put true positives on top; only the denominator changes.

Precision divides true positives by every case you flagged, so false positives hurt it. Recall divides true positives by every case that was truly positive, so misses hurt it. Neither metric counts true negatives, which is why both survive when negatives vastly outnumber positives.

// flagged 100 items, 80 were right; 200 real positives exist
const precision = 80 / 100; // 0.80
const recall = 80 / 200;    // 0.40

Reading them together stops a common trap. A model that flags one obvious case scores perfect precision and almost no recall. A model that flags everything scores perfect recall and terrible precision. Neither number means much alone, so quote both, plus how many predictions produced them.

Rewriting in plainer words…

This answer doesn't lend itself to a diagram - it reads best . No credits were charged.

Why there's no diagram: “”

The interactive diagram is below the answer - jump to diagram ↓ · Below it, the related concept . Jump to it ↓

The diagram below the answer is the concept . Jump to it ↓

Tailored explanation · switch back to · ·
What should the new diagram focus on?
How well did you know this?
AI:

Saved in this browser - sign in to keep your review list.

How should your speech become text?

Listening… your words appear above as you speak - tap Stop when you're done.

Recording · cr - tap Stop & transcribe when you're done.

Transcribing with AI…

Voice:

Keep going - a few more words and AI can grade it.

Interview lens

Likely follow-ups, what you can say, and the weak answers to avoid.

Sign in free to open it Free account - the lens opens as soon as you're back.

Want a quick review of the fundamentals? See the Model Evaluation & Validation cheatsheet.

← Back to all Model Evaluation & Validation questions
Pro · $10/mo

37 of 43 Model Evaluation & Validation answers are in Pro.

Full answers, code samples, and AI explanations that go simpler or deeper. Cancel anytime.

  • Full answers + code
  • AI explanations, simpler or deeper
  • 1,000 AI credits / month
  • Cancel anytime