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Python for Data Analysis Questions

Covers the practical use of Python and its data libraries to perform data ingestion, cleaning, transformation, analysis, and aggregation. Candidates should be able to manipulate data frames, perform complex grouping and aggregation operations, merge and join multiple data sources, and implement efficient vectorized operations using libraries such as Pandas and NumPy. Expect to write clear, idiomatic Python with appropriate error handling, input validation, and small tests or assertions. At more senior levels, discuss performance trade offs and scalability strategies such as choosing NumPy vectorization versus Pandas, and when to adopt alternative tools like Polars or Dask for very large datasets, as well as techniques for memory management, profiling, and incremental or streaming processing. Also cover reproducibility, serialization formats, and integrating analysis into pipelines.

HardTechnical
51 practiced
Design a memory management plan for large numeric DataFrame operations in Python. Discuss in-place operations, dtype downcasting, converting strings to categoricals, chunking, memory-mapped NumPy arrays, and when to adopt Arrow/Parquet or alternative engines to minimize peak memory usage.
EasyTechnical
84 practiced
Write a Python function using pandas that converts a DataFrame column of percentage strings (for example: '12%', '3.4%', 'n/a') into float values between 0 and 1. The function should coerce malformed entries to NaN and preserve the original DataFrame if an error occurs. Include basic input validation.
HardSystem Design
63 practiced
Explain algorithmic strategies for joining two very large datasets by a composite key where join order and partitioning affect performance. Describe sort-merge vs hash-partitioned join approaches, how to implement partitioned joins in Python (manual hashing or using Dask), and how to estimate memory requirements for each partition.
EasyTechnical
52 practiced
List the pros and cons of common serialization formats for storing analysis outputs: CSV, JSON, Parquet, and Feather. For each format mention how it handles schema, compression, read/write speed, and interoperability with analytics tools.
EasyTechnical
96 practiced
Explain what NaN represents in NumPy/pandas, why comparisons like (np.nan == np.nan) return False, and list safe ways to test for missing values in a DataFrame that also work for non-numeric dtypes.

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