MLS-C01 Modeling Practice Question
A data scientist is building a regression model to predict house prices. The dataset includes features such as square footage, number of bedrooms, and location. After training a linear regression model, the scientist notices that the residuals have a pattern: they increase as the predicted value increases. Which action is most appropriate?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Apply a log transformation to the target variable
Patterned residuals (heteroscedasticity) violating linear regression assumptions. Log-transforming the target variable can stabilize variance. Adding polynomial features or interactions may help with non-linearity but not specifically for heteroscedasticity. Ridge regression is for multicollinearity, not for patterned residuals.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Remove outliers from the dataset
Why it's wrong here
Outliers may cause patterns but not necessarily the increasing variance pattern described.
- ✗
Use Ridge regression instead of linear regression
Why it's wrong here
Ridge regression addresses multicollinearity, not patterned residuals.
- ✗
Add polynomial features to the model
Why it's wrong here
Polynomial features address non-linearity, not heteroscedasticity.
- ✓
Apply a log transformation to the target variable
Why this is correct
Log transformation can stabilize variance and reduce heteroscedasticity.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This MLS-C01 question is part of Courseiva's 1,672-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This MLS-C01 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the MLS-C01 exam.