Skip to main content

2 posts tagged with "NumPy"

View All Tags

Pandas and NumPy for Beginners

· 5 min read
Career Credentials
Where Education meets Ambition

When diving into the world of data science and Python, two libraries you will undoubtedly encounter are Pandas and NumPy. These libraries are essential tools for data manipulation and analysis, and mastering them will greatly enhance your ability to work with data. This blog aims to introduce beginners to these powerful libraries, showcasing their functionalities, similarities, and differences, while providing practical examples to get you started.

Introduction to Pandas

Pandas is a widely-used open-source library designed for data manipulation and analysis. Its goal is to be the most powerful and flexible open-source tool for data analysis, and it has certainly achieved that goal. At the heart of Pandas is the DataFrame, a two-dimensional, size-mutable, and potentially heterogeneous tabular data structure with labeled axes (rows and columns). Think of it as a highly sophisticated spreadsheet in Python.

Key Features of Pandas

  1. DataFrames: Central to Pandas, DataFrames are structured like tables or spreadsheets with rows and columns, both having indexes. This structure allows for easy data manipulation and analysis.
  2. Handling Missing Data: Pandas has built-in functionalities to handle missing data efficiently.
  3. SQL-like Operations: Many SQL functions have counterparts in Pandas, such as join, merge, filter, and group by.
  4. Data Transformation: You can easily transform and reshape your data with various built-in functions.

Installing Pandas

If you have Anaconda installed, Pandas may already be included. If not, you can install it using the following commands:

conda install pandas

Alternatively, if you're using pip, you can install it with:

pip install pandas

Getting Started with Pandas

Before using Pandas, you need to import it into your Python environment. Typically, it is imported with the abbreviation pd:

import pandas as pd

Introduction to NumPy

NumPy, short for Numerical Python, is a fundamental package for numerical computation in Python. It provides support for large multi-dimensional arrays and matrices, along with a collection of mathematical functions to operate on these arrays.

Key Features of NumPy

  1. ndarrays: NumPy arrays, or ndarrays, are more flexible and efficient than Python lists. They can have any number of dimensions and hold a collection of items of the same data type.
  2. Fast Element Access: Accessing and manipulating elements in a NumPy array is faster compared to Python lists.
  3. Vectorized Operations: NumPy allows for vectorized operations, enabling mathematical operations to be performed on entire arrays without the need for explicit loops.

Installing NumPy

Similar to Pandas, you can install NumPy using either conda or pip:

conda install numpy

Or with pip:

pip install numpy

Getting Started with NumPy

Before using NumPy, import it into your Python environment. It is usually imported with the abbreviation np:

import numpy as np

Working with NumPy Arrays

NumPy arrays (ndarrays) are the foundation of the NumPy library. They can be one-dimensional (vectors) or multi-dimensional (matrices). Here are some examples to illustrate their usage.

Creating NumPy Arrays

To create a one-dimensional ndarray from a Python list, use the np.array() function:

list1 = [1, 2, 3, 4]
array1 = np.array(list1)
print(array1)

Output:

[1 2 3 4]

For a two-dimensional ndarray, start with a list of lists:

list2 = [[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]]
array2 = np.array(list2)
print(array2)

Output:

[[1 2 3]
 [4 5 6]]

Operations on NumPy Arrays

NumPy arrays allow for various operations such as selecting elements, slicing, reshaping, splitting, combining, and performing numerical operations like min, max, mean, etc. For example, to reduce the prices of toys by €2:

toyPrices = np.array([5, 8, 3, 6])
print(toyPrices - 2)

Output:

[3 6 1 4]

Pandas Series and DataFrames

Pandas Series

A Series is similar to a one-dimensional ndarray but with additional functionalities. For instance, you can label the indices, which is not possible with ndarrays. Here’s an example of creating a Series with default numerical indices:

ages = np.array([13, 25, 19])
series1 = pd.Series(ages)
print(series1)

Output:

0    13
1    25
2    19
dtype: int64

You can customize the indices using the index argument:

series1 = pd.Series(ages, index=['Emma', 'Swetha', 'Serajh'])
print(series1)

Output:

Emma      13
Swetha    25
Serajh    19
dtype: int64

Pandas DataFrame

A DataFrame is a two-dimensional labeled data structure with columns of potentially different types. Here’s how to create a DataFrame using a list of lists:

dataf = pd.DataFrame([
    ['John Smith', '123 Main St', 34],
    ['Jane Doe', '456 Maple Ave', 28],
    ['Joe Schmo', '789 Broadway', 51]
], columns=['name', 'address', 'age'])
print(dataf)

Output:

          name        address  age
0  John Smith   123 Main St   34
1    Jane Doe   456 Maple Ave  28
2    Joe Schmo  789 Broadway   51

You can change the row indices to be one of the columns:

dataf.set_index('name', inplace=True)
print(dataf)

Output:

            address  age
name                     
John Smith  123 Main St   34
Jane Doe    456 Maple Ave  28
Joe Schmo   789 Broadway   51

Conclusion

Understanding Pandas and NumPy is crucial for any aspiring data scientist. NumPy provides the fundamental building blocks for numerical computations, while Pandas builds on top of these blocks to offer more sophisticated data manipulation tools. Mastering these libraries will empower you to handle, analyze, and visualize data effectively.

Whether you're a beginner or looking to deepen your knowledge, practicing with real-world data sets and exploring the extensive documentation for these libraries will further enhance your skills. Happy coding!

Python Libraries Every Programming Beginner Should Know

· 4 min read
Career Credentials
Where Education meets Ambition

Are you new to the world of Python programming? Exciting times lie ahead! Let's equip you with some essential tools to kickstart your journey. Here are seven must-know Python libraries, explained in simple terms with examples:

1. NumPy: Your Numerical Wizard

Imagine you have loads of numbers to work with. NumPy helps you handle them like a pro. It's like a magic wand for arrays—collections of numbers. With NumPy, you can do cool stuff like finding square roots of all numbers at once. Check this out:

import numpy as np

numbers = np.array([1, 4, 9, 16])
sqrt_numbers = np.sqrt(numbers)
print(sqrt_numbers)

Enroll Now: App Building using Python by Dr. Amar Panchal and Start Building Your Own Cool Stuff !

2. pandas: Your Data Wrangling Sidekick

Got data to analyze? pandas is your go-to buddy. It's like having a superpower for working with tables of data, like Excel sheets. Let's say you have a grades spreadsheet:

import pandas as pd

grades_df = pd.read_excel('grades.xlsx', index_col='name')
print(grades_df.mean(axis=1))

3. matplotlib: Your Visual Storyteller

Ever wanted to make cool charts? matplotlib is here for you. It's like an artist's palette for creating visual masterpieces from your data. Check out how easy it is to plot a simple graph:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

x = [1, 2, 3, 4]
y = [10, 15, 13, 18]

plt.plot(x, y)
plt.show()

Check Out: 100 Most Asked Python QnA by Career Credentials for FREE !!

4. os: Your Digital Navigator

Need to find, move, or change files on your computer? That's where os comes in handy. It's like having a map to explore your computer's folders. Here's how you can list files in your current folder:

import os

current_directory = os.getcwd()
file_list = os.listdir(current_directory)
print(file_list)

5. datetime: Your Timekeeper

Working with dates and times can be tricky, but datetime makes it easy. It's like having a special clock just for your code. Let's see how many days have passed since a special date:

import datetime as dt

birthday = dt.datetime(2000, 1, 1)
days_passed = dt.datetime.today() - birthday
print(days_passed.days)

Enroll Now: Learn Django with Prashant Sir and level up your web dev game !

6. statsmodels: Your Statistical Assistant

Statistics can be daunting, but statsmodels is here to help. It's like having a stats expert by your side. Let's say you want to fit a regression model:

import statsmodels.api as sm
import numpy as np

X = np.array([1, 2, 3, 4])
y = np.array([2, 4, 6, 8])

model = sm.OLS(y, X).fit()
print(model.summary())

7. scikit-learn: Your Machine Learning Companion

Ready to dive into machine learning? scikit-learn has your back. It's like having a guide to the world of AI. Let's load a famous dataset and get started:

from sklearn.datasets import load_iris

iris = load_iris()
X = iris.data
y = iris.target

print(X.shape, y.shape)

With these seven powerful libraries in your toolkit, you're ready to conquer the world of Python programming. Happy coding!


Check Out: Python Notes by Career Credentials for FREE !!

Confused About Your Career?

Don't let another opportunity pass you by. Invest in yourself and your future today! Click the button below to schedule a consultation and take the first step towards achieving your career goals.




Our team is ready to guide you on the best credentialing options for your aspirations.

Let's build a brighter future together!

Empower Yourself. Elevate Your Career at Career Credentials Where Education meets Ambition.