# How to adjust neural network weights for several inputs?

Currently I'm working on solving the XOR problem with a homemade NN in C++. Several (worthy) people have recommended my weight adjustment formula to be:

$$weight=weight + (error \cdot input) .$$

That's all fine and dandy, but considering there are multiple inputs in XOR how does one decide the current input to be multiplied by the error for the new weight? Also, in the future I may need several outputs. In that case, which error do I use to find the new weight?

• Did you read about how your weight update was derived? Please show us what you understand. Jan 1, 2017 at 17:29
• The earlier formula I used was based on natureofcode.com, now I'm relatively sure it's only for perceptrons. Not adequate for MLP of course. Feb 10, 2017 at 15:43

## 1 Answer

Remember that you can see this adjustment formula as operation of matrixes. Consider an example:

You have 2 inputs and 3 neurons on input layer. For each connection between input and neuron, we have a weight. So, in this case we could have a matrix of weights 3x2. We know that our input is 1x2, therefore our error matrix must be 3x1. This sounds a little bit strange because error for a single output (in XOR example) is scalar.

Then, in your formula this is not the absolute error, this could be called the gradient (if you're implementing a MLP), which is calculated by:

$\delta_i^L(n) = f'_k(x_i^L(n)) \cdot e_i^L(n)$ , L as the output layer

$\delta_i^k(n) = f'_k(x_i^k(n)) \cdot \sum_1^{k+1}weight_{ij}(n) \cdot \delta_i^{k+1}(n)$, if k is not the output layer L.

Notations: Consider $f_k'$ as the derivate of activation function of the refered layer $k$. Consider $e_i^L$ as absolute error ($desired - observated$). Consider $x_i^k$ as each $i$ input of $k$ layer.

Obs: If you're not implementing MLP, please search for the "equivalent".

Finally, your weight adjustment could be realize with your formula using matrixes' point of view of the data to help NN to "decide" with whom each input and neurons is interacting. These approach is valid for multiple outputs as well.

• Good Stuff. I'm a bit new to this so I wasn't sure I would get a reply, so thanks Adelson. This should clear up some of my code. Jan 4, 2017 at 2:38