Inspect before transforming
Pandas work should start with shape, column names, dtypes, missingness, duplicate checks, and small samples. This prevents later code from making assumptions about a dataset that has not been understood.
Pandas and NumPy support for data cleaning, dataframe operations, arrays, merging, grouping, and assignment explanations. This page focuses on the methods, files, checks, and submission issues that are specific to this subject rather than repeating a generic data science workflow.
Share the exact brief so the method and deliverables follow the course rather than a generic template.
A common Pandas task combines several monthly files whose columns or category labels are not fully consistent. The notebook should standardise the schema, concatenate safely, detect duplicates, validate totals, create grouped summaries, and explain how the cleaned dataframe differs from the raw inputs.
The final working file should make each transformation or calculation traceable. A marker should be able to follow the order of operations and see how the output answers the brief.
These steps are technical checkpoints, not a one-size-fits-all order. The exact brief always takes priority.
Keep evidence for this step in the code, output, comments, or short written explanation so it can be reviewed later.
Keep evidence for this step in the code, output, comments, or short written explanation so it can be reviewed later.
Keep evidence for this step in the code, output, comments, or short written explanation so it can be reviewed later.
Keep evidence for this step in the code, output, comments, or short written explanation so it can be reviewed later.
Keep evidence for this step in the code, output, comments, or short written explanation so it can be reviewed later.
The points below focus on the technical decisions that are specific to this subject.
Pandas work should start with shape, column names, dtypes, missingness, duplicate checks, and small samples. This prevents later code from making assumptions about a dataset that has not been understood.
Merge keys, groupby logic, pivot tables, vectorized calculations, and filters should be broken into understandable steps when the assignment is being graded for method as well as result.
Broadcasting, boolean masks, axes, and array reshaping can produce valid-looking but incorrect results. Printing shapes and testing a small slice is a reliable way to verify array logic.
When a cleaned dataframe is created, the notebook should make it clear which rows or columns changed and why. That record helps the student defend preprocessing choices in a report.
The course brief should decide the environment. Switching to a different tool only because it is familiar can make an otherwise correct solution unsuitable for submission.
Answers are kept specific to this page so students can check requirements, method, files, and limitations without reading repeated site-wide text.
Check merge keys, uniqueness, row counts, unmatched rows, and totals before and after the merge. The validate parameter can help when the relationship type is known.
Yes. The notebook can show what changed, why it changed, and how many rows or values were affected.
NumPy is useful for array operations, vectorised calculations, reshaping, and numerical work, but the choice should match the assignment and remain readable.
Yes. The brief and rubric should be shared before work begins so the required tool, output format, method, and file structure can be followed.
Reasonable corrections can be reviewed against the original brief. A new dataset, method, analysis section, or changed requirement may be a separate scope.
Send the assignment brief, dataset, deadline, tool requirement, and grading rubric. A clear quote can be shared after reviewing the exact task.