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Python

Posted by Welby Obeng
Welby Obeng
20,340 Points

Is there a better way to solve this Python Code Challenge?

Create a function named combo() that takes two iterables and returns a list of tuples. Each tuple should hold the first item in each list, then the second set, then the third, and so on. Assume the iterables will be the same length.

# combo(['swallow', 'snake', 'parrot'], 'abc')
# Output:
# [('swallow', 'a'), ('snake', 'b'), ('parrot', 'c')]
# If you use list.append(), you'll want to pass it a tuple of new values.
# Using enumerate() here can save you a variable or two.

def combo(arg1,arg2):
  final = []
  arg2_list=list(arg2)
  for arg1_key,arg1_value in enumerate(arg1):
    for arg2_key,arg2_value in enumerate(arg2_list):
      if arg1_key == arg2_key:
        final.append((arg1_value,arg2_value))
  return final

3 Answers

Kenneth Love
STAFF
Kenneth Love
Treehouse Guest Teacher
Kenneth Love
Kenneth Love
Treehouse Guest Teacher

You don't need to turn arg2 into a list. It's going to be an iterable so you can loop over it anyway.

I'm not sure why you're doing two for loops. Using .enumerate() is smart and gives you the index position. Use the value from one of the lists and use the index to get the same indexed value from the other list. Put those into a tuple in the right order and send 'em back.

Welby Obeng
Welby Obeng
20,340 Points

can you give me your answer explaining each line please?

Kenneth Love
Kenneth Love
Treehouse Guest Teacher
Kenneth Love
Kenneth Love
Treehouse Guest Teacher

I'm not going to give you the entire answer but I'll lead you most of the way there.

def combo(iter1, iter2):
  output = []
  for index, value in enumerate(iter1):
    output.append((value, iter2[index]))

You'll still need to return output but that should get you most of the way there.

Mike Tribe
Mike Tribe
4,114 Points
Mike Tribe
Mike Tribe
4,114 Points 
def combo(iter1, iter2):
    output = []

    for index, value in enumerate(iter1):
        output.append((value, iter2[index]))

    return(output)
William Li
PLUS
William Li
Courses Plus Student 26,868 Points
William Li
William Li
Courses Plus Student 26,868 Points

Hi, Welby, Here's my solution, it makes use of list comprehension and Python's built-in zip function.

def combo(iter1, iter2):
    return [(i, j) for i, j in zip(iter1, iter2)]
Kenneth Love
Kenneth Love
Treehouse Guest Teacher
Kenneth Love
Kenneth Love
Treehouse Guest Teacher

Why go through so much trouble? zip() does exactly what I want combo() to do, so just do combo = zip or

def combo(iter1, iter2):
    return zip(iter1, iter2)
William Li
William Li
Courses Plus Student 26,868 Points

Thanks, Kenneth, combo = zip is great. btw, are you planning on doing a course on Advanced Python features? Functional programming, generator, iterator, decorator ... etc? I think such course will be an awesome addition to the current Python library at Treehouse.

Kenneth Love
Kenneth Love
Treehouse Guest Teacher
Kenneth Love
Kenneth Love
Treehouse Guest Teacher

William Li Check this out

Also, the workshop I did a few months ago on Python functional programming should be available already if you have a Pro membership or soon if you only have Basic.