XOR problem solvable with 2x2x1 neural network without bias?

Question

Is a Neural network with 2 input nodes, 2 hidden nodes and an output supposed to be able to solve the XOR problem provided there is no bias? Or can it get stuck?

Answer 1

Leave the bias in. It doesn't see the values of your inputs.

In terms of a one-to-one analogy, I like to think of the bias as the offsetting c-value in the straight line equation: y = mx + c; it adds an independent degree of freedom to your system that is not influenced by the inputs to your network.