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Python Python Basics (2015) Python Data Types Use .split() and .join()

Posted by talib faridy
talib faridy
299 Points

help me in Challenge task 3 of 3. please fix some bugs also.

available = "banana split;hot fudge;cherry;malted;black and white" sundaes = available.join(";") display_menu = sundaes menu = "Our available flavors are: {}".format(", ".join(display_menu))

print(display_menu) print(menu)

banana.py 
available = "banana split;hot fudge;cherry;malted;black and white"
sundaes = available.join(";")
display_menu = sundaes
menu = "Our available flavors are: {}".format(", ".join(available))

print(display_menu)
print(menu)

2 Answers

Jason Anders
MOD
Jason Anders
Treehouse Moderator 145,860 Points
Jason Anders
Jason Anders
Treehouse Moderator 145,860 Points

Hey Talib,

You are very close, but there are a few things.

  • First, when creating the variable sundaes, you want to use .split not .join.
  • Second, you have a few things that the challenge did not ask for. Challenges are very specific and picky, so if you add things that aren't specified in the instructions, it will often throw the Bummer. You will need to delete the display_menu assignment (this wasn't asked for) and the two print statements (also not asked for).
  • Finally, in the string output, you want to .join what's in the sundaes variable (the value is the split of the available variable.

Because you were so close, I've posted the corrected code below for you to have a look at. Everything should make sense. :)

available = "banana split;hot fudge;cherry;malted;black and white"
sundaes = available.split(";")

menu = "Our available flavors are: {}".format(", ".join(sundaes))

Keep Coding! :dizzy:

peterpyne
peterpyne
10,932 Points

Jason, in your comment you've said

You will need to delete the display_menu assignment (this wasn't asked for)

Though the challenge says:

Alright, let's finish making our menu. Combine the sundaes list into a new variable named display_menu, where each item in the list is rejoined together by a comma and a space (", ")...

Are there two correct ways to complete this challenge then? I understand that your answer will be the most efficient way of doing things, but just for kicks, what's the other way?

Thanks.

Jason Anders
Jason Anders
Treehouse Moderator 145,860 Points
Jason Anders
Jason Anders
Treehouse Moderator 145,860 Points

Yes, Peter Pyne, this particular challenge actually has two way to complete it. The first one is using the display_menu variable like so:

available = "banana split;hot fudge;cherry;malted;black and white"
sundaes = available.split(';')
display_menu = ", ".join(sundaes)
menu = "Our available flavors are: {}.".format(display_menu)

When I originally answered the question, I guess I skimmed the instructions too quickly and went right over the 1st way and focused on the

If you're really brave, you can even accomplish this all on the same line where menu is currently being set

which would only use the menu variable (Code for this 2nd way is above). So, for the second way, display_menu is not needed or asked for, but you are correct in that it is needed for the 1st way (that was and oversight on my part).

Hope this clears it up for you :)

Keep Coding! :dizzy:

Thomas Spear
Thomas Spear
1,149 Points
Thomas Spear
Thomas Spear
1,149 Points

I was also having trouble with the third part of this challenge. The question asks for a new variable named display_menu.

"Alright, let's finish making our menu. Combine the sundaes list into a new variable named display_menu, where each item in the list is rejoined together by a comma and a space (", "). Then use .format() on our existing menu variable to replace the the placeholder with the new string in display_menu. If you're really brave, you can even accomplish this all on the same line where menu is currently being set."

No matter what I tried with display_menu, I could not get it to work for me. I ended up having to eliminate the display_menu part and the combination of the sundaes, and use the code suggested above. I was trying something similar to what was suggested as the answer, but using display_menu = menu.format(", ".join(sundaes)).