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Python Missing Data Script
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Python Missing Data Script

MediumPython

Problem

Write a Python script to handle missing data in a large dataset.

Implement handle_missing_data(records, numeric_fields, categorical_fields). Each record is a dictionary; a missing value is represented by None or an absent key. Return new records, replacing numeric missing values with their field mean and categorical missing values with their most frequent value. Break categorical frequency ties by choosing the lexicographically smallest value. Use 0.0 for an entirely missing numeric field and an empty string for an entirely missing categorical field. Do not mutate the input records.

Constraints

  • 1 <= len(records) <= 5000
  • Each record is a dictionary with string keys
  • Numeric field values are integers or floating-point numbers when present
  • Categorical field values are non-empty strings when present
  • A field may be absent from a record, which is treated as missing
  • The input records must not be mutated

Function Signature

def handle_missing_data(records, numeric_fields, categorical_fields):
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