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

Posted by f4u57
f4u57
6,743 Points

why reverse_evens function is wrong

Hi, I don't understand why this is wrong. Thanks in advance. Last challenge.

slices.py 
def first_4(item):
    return item[:4]

def first_and_last_4(item):
    return item[:4] + item[-4::]

def odds(item):
    return item[1::2]

def reverse_evens(item):
    return item[-1::-2]

1 Answer

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,732 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,732 Points

You're half right. Your method will work when the list has an odd number of items. But when the list has an even number of items, it will return reverse odds instead.

To always return reverse evens, there's two basic strategies:

  • compute the starting position based on the list size
  • extract the even index values first, then reverse them

Either one will pass the challenge when implemented correctly.