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Python Functional Python Functional Workhorses Map

Slice syntax seems like the only good way to solve.

I tried so many other ways and these are my 2 solutions. Are there any others are in between the complexity of these? I do not think checking the instance type is really ideal, but maybe it is because its necessary in this case. Was thinking maybe a try... catch instead but didn't attempt

def reverse(item):
    item = copy(item)
    if isinstance(item, str):  
        reversed_lst = list(reversed(item))
        return ''.join(reversed_lst)
    elif isinstance(item, list):
        return list(reversed(item))
    else:
        print(f'{item} is not a string or list')
        return item

Using slice syntax

def reverse(itr):
    item = copy(itr)
    return item[::-1]

Also, the first solution above was not accepted as correct even though it does work.

2 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,732 Points

The first solution only works with strings and lists, so it's likely not being accepted because there are several other possible types of iterables.

The second solution is perhaps the ideal approach, as it will work with any kind of iterable without concern for type. But you don't need to bother making a copy since the slice does that for you:

def reverse(item):
    return item[::-1]
Chris Freeman
MOD
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,423 Points

Hey Ryan Valentine, It looks like the first solution has a NameError: name 'copy' is not defined.

If you add from copy import copy, the code will pass Task 1.

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,732 Points

It might pass, but it still wouldn't meet the objectives.

Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,423 Points

If the objective is create a function that can be used with map in Task 2, then this function works there as well 🤷‍♂️