Learn how to resolve the `Inconsistent number of samples` error when splitting datasets in Python using train_test_split. Our step-by-step guide simplifies your understanding of linear regression training and test sets.
---
This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/62669107/ asked by the user 'Gail Wittich' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/13731434/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/62669159/ provided by the user 'freqnseverity' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/13545797/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.
Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: Found input variables with inconsistent numbers of samples: [799996, 199999]
Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/l...
The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license.
If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
Understanding the Inconsistent Number of Samples Error in Python's train_test_split Function
When working with data science and machine learning in Python, you may encounter various types of errors, and one that often puzzles beginners is the Inconsistent number of samples error. This error message appears when you attempt to split a single DataFrame for training and testing, yet end up with a mismatch in the number of samples for your training and test sets. Here’s how to understand and solve this issue.
The Problem Explained
You may have a scenario like the following while using the train_test_split function from the sklearn library:
[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]
In the sample code above, the error points out that the input variables have inconsistent numbers of samples - for instance, [799996, 199999]. This essentially indicates that your training set (X_train) and testing set (X_test) don't have the same number of records.
Why Does This Happen?
Random Sampling: The train_test_split function works by generating random values for each record in the DataFrame.
Threshold for Testing Set: Records with a generated random number lower than your specified test_size (in this case, 0.2 for 20%) are included in the test set.
Variability: Since this is a random process, there may not always be exactly 20% of your total records moved into X_test. For small datasets or certain distributions, the number of samples may end up being mismatched, leading to the error you're facing.
Steps to Resolve the Issue
To tackle this error and ensure that your training and test sets are consistent, follow these strategies:
1. Check the Dimensions of Your DataFrame
Use print(df.shape) before splitting to verify the total number of rows and columns in your DataFrame.
Ensure that your categorical_cols and numeric_cols lists contain the correct column names.
2. Adjust test_size Parameter
If you notice that your dataset is too small or the distribution of sizes is resulting in the mismatch, you can adjust the test_size parameter to achieve a more balanced outcome.
For example:
[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]
3. Ensure Proper Setup for Linear Regression
The call to fit on your LinearRegression model should be adjusted from fit(X_train, X_test) to use an appropriate target variable as follows:
[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]
4. Validate Your Predictions
Finally, after fixing the above code, call the score method correctly, for example:
[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]
In Conclusion
Understanding and resolving the Inconsistent number of samples error is critical for effectively splitting your datasets for machine learning tasks. By ensuring that your variables are set up correctly, and that your train_test_split parameters are appropriately chosen, you will find success in your modeling efforts.
When you encounter random sampling issues, remember to adjust parameters or validate the input data. Such issues can seem daunting at first, but with practice, you'll become adept at maneuvering through them.
If you found this guide helpful, don't hesitate to share it with your peers who might also be navigating through Python's data science hurdles!
Информация по комментариям в разработке