Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

Python Python Collections (2016, retired 2019) Slices Slice Functions

Slice Functions

Getting confused by this statement 'return the first four and last four items as a single value'

slices.py
def first_4(iterable):
    return iterable[:4]

def first_and_last_4(iterable):
    iterable[:4]
    iterable[6:]
    return iterable[:4] + iterable[6:]
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,236 Points

:mailbox_with_mail: I got your message.

It looks like Phillip already took care of you. Happy holidays to you both.

Thank you! Happy coding and holidays to you too.

2 Answers

Watch the previous video about slicing again and see how he uses a negative 2 at 2:25.

def first_4(iterable):
    return iterable[:4]

def first_and_last_4(iterable):
    return iterable[:4] + iterable[-4:]

def first_4(iterable): return iterable[:4]

def first_and_last_4(iterable): return iterable[:4] + iterable[-4:]