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Python Python Collections (2016, retired 2019) Tuples Combo

Moses Ong
Moses Ong
165 Points
Posted by Moses Ong
Moses Ong
165 Points

How do tuples hold two ordered variable

I kept getting syntax errors. I wonder how I should work around with the solution

combo.py 
# combo([1, 2, 3], 'abc')
# Output:
# [(1, 'a'), (2, 'b'), (3, 'c')]

def combo(string, string1):
    string = list(enumerate(string)
    string2 = list(enumerate(string2)
    joined_string2 = string + string2 

    return joined_string2

1 Answer

Alex Koumparos
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.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
Alex Koumparos
Python Development Techdegree Student 36,887 Points
Alex Koumparos
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
Alex Koumparos
Python Development Techdegree Student 36,887 Points

HI Moses,

def combo(string, string1):

First, I'd strongly recommend using better names for your parameters. Your function definition suggests to anyone reading it that this function only works with, or only expects to receive, strings as inputs. This is false. You will get all kinds of iterables as inputs. So perhaps naming your parameters: iter1 and iter2would make your code more clear.

    string = list(enumerate(string)
    string2 = list(enumerate(string2)

Having argument names that reflect that type of data you are receiving will help you to remember that you don't need to turn your inputs into lists. The code to solve the challenge will work directly on any kind of iterable. Also, you called your second input string1 in your function definition but you're referring to it as string2 here.

    joined_string2 = string + string2

Let's take a look at the Python interpreter and see what this would produce, using the sample inputs [1, 2, 3], 'abc':

[(0, 1), (1, 2), (2, 3), (0, 'a'), (1, 'b'), (2, 'c')]

And this is what the challenge wants as an output:

[(1, 'a'), (2, 'b'), (3, 'c')]

As you can see, you've added the 0,1,2 sequences to both iterables (using the enumerate function). Also, your sequence is all of string then all of string1 but the challenge wants you to combine the elements so you have the both the first items, then both the second items, etc.

The easiest way to do that (where by easy I mean the easiest code concepts we've seen before) would be to:

  1. create an empty list, then make a loop that iterates the number of times of the length of one of your iterators (remember that the challenge says they are both the same length).
  2. During each iteration of the loop, it makes a tuple of that index's element from iterator 1 and that index's element from iterator 2 and then
  3. Append each tuple to your list; finally
  4. return the list

There is also a really cool function called zip that will basically do all the above in one line, but it's probably best to really cement your understanding of all the above before you add that into the mix.

Cheers

Alex