How do you evaluate the performance of a clustering algorithm?

Instruction: Describe metrics and methods used to assess the quality of clusters formed by a clustering algorithm.

Context: This question tests the candidate's knowledge on evaluating unsupervised learning models, particularly how to measure the effectiveness of clustering when true labels are not known.

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The way I'd approach it in an interview is this: I evaluate clustering in two layers. First, I use internal measures like cohesion, separation, silhouette score, or stability across runs to understand whether the clusters are structurally meaningful. If I have...

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