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Python Python Collections (2016, retired 2019) Sets Set Math

John Smith
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.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
229,744 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.