Custom transformers in ML Python - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to import the base class for creating a custom transformer in scikit-learn.

ML Python

from sklearn.base import [1]

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ABaseEstimator

BTransformerMixin

CCustomTransformer

DPipeline

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using TransformerMixin instead of BaseEstimator for inheritance.

Trying to import a non-existent class named CustomTransformer.

The BaseEstimator class is the base class to inherit from when creating custom transformers in scikit-learn.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to define the fit method for a custom transformer class.

ML Python

class MyTransformer(BaseEstimator, TransformerMixin):
    def fit(self, X, y=None):
        # No fitting needed, just return self
        return [1]

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Aself

By

CX

DNone

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Returning the input data X instead of self.

Returning None which breaks chaining.

The fit method should return self to allow method chaining in scikit-learn.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the transform method to correctly transform input data by doubling all values.

ML Python

def transform(self, X):
    return X [1] 2

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A+

B*

C-

D/

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using addition instead of multiplication.

Using division or subtraction which changes values incorrectly.

To double all values in X, multiply by 2 using the * operator.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create a dictionary comprehension that maps words to their lengths only if length is greater than 3.

ML Python

{word: [1] for word in words if len(word) [2] 3}

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Alen(word)

B>

C<

Dword

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using word instead of len(word) as the dictionary value.

Using less than operator < which filters wrong words.

The dictionary comprehension maps each word to its length using len(word). The condition filters words with length greater than 3 using >.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to create a dictionary comprehension that maps uppercase words to their counts only if count is greater than zero.

ML Python

result = {{ [1]: [2] for word, count in word_counts.items() if count [3] 0 }}

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Aword.upper()

Bcount

C>

Dword.lower()

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using word.lower() instead of uppercase.

Using less than operator < which filters wrong counts.

The comprehension maps the uppercase version of each word (word.upper()) to its count (count) only if the count is greater than zero (> 0).

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of creating a custom transformer in machine learning pipelines?

easy

A. To train a machine learning model directly

B. To define a reusable data processing step with fit and transform methods

C. To visualize data distributions

D. To store the final predictions of a model

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of transformers

   Transformers process data by learning parameters in fit and applying changes in transform.

2. Step 2: Identify the purpose of custom transformers

   Custom transformers let you create your own data processing steps reusable in pipelines.

3. Final Answer:

   To define a reusable data processing step with fit and transform methods -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Custom transformer = reusable data step [OK]

Hint: Custom transformers handle data prep, not model training [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing transformers with models
• Thinking transformers visualize data
• Assuming transformers store predictions

2. Which of the following is the correct way to start defining a custom transformer class in Python using scikit-learn?

easy

A. class MyTransformer(Pipeline):

B. class MyTransformer(Model):

C. class MyTransformer(BaseEstimator, TransformerMixin):

D. def MyTransformer():

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall inheritance for custom transformers

   Custom transformers inherit from BaseEstimator and TransformerMixin to get fit and transform methods.

2. Step 2: Match correct class definition syntax

   class MyTransformer(BaseEstimator, TransformerMixin): correctly shows class inheritance from BaseEstimator and TransformerMixin.

3. Final Answer:

   class MyTransformer(BaseEstimator, TransformerMixin): -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Inheritance from BaseEstimator and TransformerMixin = class MyTransformer(BaseEstimator, TransformerMixin): [OK]

Hint: Custom transformers inherit BaseEstimator and TransformerMixin [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using Model or Pipeline as base classes
• Defining transformer as a function
• Missing inheritance entirely

3. Given this custom transformer code snippet, what will print(transformed_data) output?

from sklearn.base import BaseEstimator, TransformerMixin
import numpy as np

class AddConstant(BaseEstimator, TransformerMixin):
    def __init__(self, constant=1):
        self.constant = constant
    def fit(self, X, y=None):
        return self
    def transform(self, X):
        return X + self.constant

X = np.array([[1, 2], [3, 4]])
transformer = AddConstant(constant=5)
transformed_data = transformer.fit_transform(X)
print(transformed_data)

medium

A. [[6 7]
[8 9]]

B. [[1 2]
[3 4]]

C. [[5 5]
[5 5]]

D. Error: fit_transform method not defined

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand transform method behavior

   The transform method adds the constant (5) to every element in X.

2. Step 2: Calculate transformed data

   Original X is [[1,2],[3,4]]. Adding 5 gives [[6,7],[8,9]].

3. Final Answer:

   [[6 7] [8 9]] -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Adding constant 5 to X = [[6 7] [8 9]] [OK]

Hint: transform adds constant to all elements [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking fit_transform is missing
• Forgetting to add constant
• Confusing output with original data

4. What is wrong with this custom transformer code?

from sklearn.base import BaseEstimator, TransformerMixin

class MultiplyTransformer(BaseEstimator, TransformerMixin):
    def __init__(self, factor=2):
        self.factor = factor
    def fit(self, X, y=None):
        return self
    def transform(self, X):
        return X * self.factor

transformer = MultiplyTransformer(factor=3)
result = transformer.transform([1, 2, 3])
print(result)

medium

A. transform method should convert input to numpy array before multiplying

B. fit method is missing a return statement

C. factor should be a list, not an int

D. Class should inherit from Pipeline, not BaseEstimator

Solution

1. Step 1: Check input type handling in transform

   Input is a list, multiplying list by int repeats list instead of element-wise multiply.

2. Step 2: Fix transform to convert input to numpy array

   Converting input to numpy array allows element-wise multiplication as intended.

3. Final Answer:

   transform method should convert input to numpy array before multiplying -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   List * int repeats list, need numpy array for element-wise multiply [OK]

Hint: Use numpy arrays for element-wise math in transform [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming list * int does element-wise multiply
• Missing return in fit method (actually present)
• Wrong base class inheritance

5. You want to create a custom transformer that replaces missing values in a dataset with the median of each column, then scales the data by dividing by the max value per column. Which approach correctly combines these steps in one transformer?

hard

A. In fit, replace missing values; in transform, compute medians and max values

B. Use two separate transformers instead of one custom transformer

C. Only implement transform method to do all steps without fit

D. In fit, compute medians and max values; in transform, replace missing with medians and divide by max values

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand fit and transform roles

   fit calculates statistics (median, max) from training data; transform applies these to new data.

2. Step 2: Apply correct sequence in methods

   In fit, compute medians and max values; in transform, replace missing with medians and divide by max values correctly computes medians and max in fit, then replaces missing and scales in transform.

3. Final Answer:

   In fit, compute medians and max values; in transform, replace missing with medians and divide by max values -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   fit learns stats, transform applies them [OK]

Hint: fit learns stats; transform applies them to data [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Doing data replacement in fit instead of transform
• Skipping fit method
• Using separate transformers unnecessarily