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

Benjamin Harris
Benjamin Harris
8,872 Points
Posted by Benjamin Harris
Benjamin Harris
8,872 Points

With [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] as the input, the function would return [5, 3, 1].

I have tested this is work spaces and returned 5, 3, 1. What am I doing wrong? : (

slices.py 
def reverse_evens(your_list):
    new_list = your_list[::-2]
    return (new_list)

def odds(your_list):
    new_list = your_list[1::2]
    return (new_list)

def first_4(your_list):
    new_list = your_list[:4]
    return (new_list)

def first_and_last_4(your_list):
    new_list = your_list[:4] + your_list[-4:]
    return (new_list)

2 Answers

Benjamin Harris
Benjamin Harris
8,872 Points
Benjamin Harris
Benjamin Harris
8,872 Points

I fixed my code.

I first made a new_list simply stepping through on even indexes then changed that new list to a reverse of itself inside the same function.

eg: new_list = your_list[::2] new_list2 = new_list[::-1] return (new_list2)

I don't really understand why I needed to do that but it worked. let's get stuck on the next question now. : )

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,007 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,007 Points

The different logic is necessary because otherwise for some lengths it would return reverse evens, but for others it would return reverse odds. There's two strategies to always return reverse evens:

  • compute the starting position based on the list size
  • extract the even index values first, then reverse them (as you did)

FYI: it's possible to make your solution more compact by eliminating the intermediate variables:

   return your_list[::2][::-1]