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Python Python Collections (2016, retired 2019) Slices Slice Functions

Josh White
Josh White
3,630 Points
Posted by Josh White
Josh White
3,630 Points

Slicing in python

Im having trouble with this challenge. Maybe I am simply misunderstanding what it is asking me to do I am not sure. The problem is to return the first 4 to whatever is sent to it. I tried it by turning the item into a list and looping through it. I've tried using the the index for example print(item[:3]) but i just cant figure out what I am doing wrong.

slices.py 
def first_4(items):
    listItem = list(items)
    i = 0
    while i < 4:
        print(listItem[i])
        i += 1

1 Answer

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

The value of a slice is that you won't need a loop. You had the right idea with "item[:3]" but a few issues:

  • the parameter name is not "item" but "items" (plural)
  • you want the first four items instead of the first three (the 2nd number is a limit not an index)
  • you don't need to "print" anything, but you need to return the result