best output representation?

[David Lambert]

Hi all.  Let's say you have a classification problem that can
be answered with one of three mutually exclusive alternatives
(eg, yes, no, don't care)

Of the following output representations:

1). One output value:

    answer   output
    ---------------
      +1       +1    (yes)
       0        0    (don't care)
      -1       -1    (no)

2). Two output values:

    answer  output1  output2
    ------------------------
      +1      +1       -1
       0      -1       -1
      -1      -1       +1

3). Three output values:

    answer  output1  output2  output3
    ---------------------------------
      +1      +1       -1       -1
       0      -1       -1       +1
      -1      -1       +1       -1

which is best, and for what reason?

Thanks.

David Lambert

dcl at botsec7.panix.com (best)
dcl at object.com
dcl at panix.com