# Generalize Dictionary Merging You are asked to merge two dictionaries and then generalize the approach to `k` dictionaries. The original prompt does not state what should happen when the same key appears more than once. Explain which questions must be resolved before implementation, compare sensible collision policies, and describe an efficient algorithm after a policy is chosen. ### Constraints & Assumptions - Do not silently choose “first wins,” “last wins,” summation, or collection; each changes the result. - Account for mutable versus immutable inputs and whether output key order matters. ### Clarifying Questions to Ask - What is the required value when a key has conflicting values? - Does dictionary order carry meaning, and may an input dictionary be modified? - Can values be combined, and if so, is that operation associative? ```hint Separate semantics from mechanics The loop is straightforward only after duplicate-key behavior and output ordering are fixed. ``` ### What a Strong Answer Covers - Recognition that the unqualified prompt has no unique result. - Collision policies and their business or API implications. - A one-pass generalization over all entries. - Time, space, ordering, and parallelization trade-offs. ### Follow-up Questions - When can partial merges be performed in parallel safely? - How would you report conflicts instead of resolving them silently?