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Python Python Collections (Retired) Slices Slice Functions

I dont understand

Make a function named first_4 that accepts an iterable as an argument and returns the first 4 items in the iterable

slices.py
def first_4(list_1):
    return list_1(0:4:1)

2 Answers

Chris Freeman
MOD
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,423 Points

You are very close. Replace the parens with square brackets:

def first_4(list_1):
    return list_1[0:4:1]

Since the default step is 1 and the default start is 0, the slice can also be written as:

return list_1[:4]

As written in your post using parens, it means call a function named list_1() with the argument [0:4:1]. This is invalid syntax for an argument and the function list_1 does not exist.

Ok, now I understand, thank you very much, you helped me a lot!!!