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?