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) Sets Set Math

John Smith
seal-mask
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
John Smith
Python Web Development Techdegree Student 1,052 Points
Posted by John Smith
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
John Smith
Python Web Development Techdegree Student 1,052 Points

I don't understand what is asking. What does it mean supplied set and courses value overlap?

Let's write some functions to explore set math a bit more. We're going to be using this COURSES dict in all of the examples. Don't change it, though!

So, first, write a function named covers that accepts a single parameter, a set of topics. Have the function return a list of courses from COURSES where the supplied set and the course's value (also a set) overlap.

For example, covers({"Python"}) would return ["Python Basics"].

Does supplied set mean "supplied" as a number or "the set that is given"? Does it mean converting the values of the dictionary to integers in order to compare them, and then return .intersection to see which overlap? I'm a bit confused on this one.

sets.py 
COURSES = {
    "Python Basics": {"Python", "functions", "variables",
                      "booleans", "integers", "floats",
                      "arrays", "strings", "exceptions",
                      "conditions", "input", "loops"},
    "Java Basics": {"Java", "strings", "variables",
                    "input", "exceptions", "integers",
                    "booleans", "loops"},
    "PHP Basics": {"PHP", "variables", "conditions",
                   "integers", "floats", "strings",
                   "booleans", "HTML"},
    "Ruby Basics": {"Ruby", "strings", "floats",
                    "integers", "conditions",
                    "functions", "input"}
}

def covers(topics)
topics = COURSES.key("Python Basics")
    if COURSES:

2 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,269 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,269 Points

An "overlap" is essentially an intersection. If the intersection of two sets is non-empty, you can say that the sets "overlap".

The "supplied set" is the one passed in as an argument.

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,269 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,269 Points

I'm glad I could help. But isn't that link pointing to this question?