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Understanding Python Lists and Algorithms

An algorithm consists of precisely stated step-by-step instructions to solve a problem in a finite number of steps. Lists in Python allow indexing, slicing, and modifying elements using functions like append(), pop(), and len(). Lists can contain different data types and grow or shrink dynamically as elements are added or removed.

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Anneil Budhu
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3 views3 pages

Understanding Python Lists and Algorithms

An algorithm consists of precisely stated step-by-step instructions to solve a problem in a finite number of steps. Lists in Python allow indexing, slicing, and modifying elements using functions like append(), pop(), and len(). Lists can contain different data types and grow or shrink dynamically as elements are added or removed.

Uploaded by

Anneil Budhu
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Algorithms

[Link] |

Let’s recap the properties of an algorithm which we discussed after Reading 1.1:

a. an algorithm consists of a precisely stated, step-by-step list of instructions


b. a problem is computable if it is possible to build an algorithm which solves any instances
of the problem in a finite number of steps

LIST
>>> myList = [42, 'cat', 3.142]

>>> myList

[42, 'cat', 3.142]

>>> # find the length

>>> len(myList)

>>> # find the item at index 1

>>> myList[1]

'cat'

>>> # add a new item and display the list again

>>> [Link](269)

>>> myList

[42, 'cat', 3.142, 269]

>>> # change the item at index 1 and display the list

>>> myList[1] = 'dog'

>>> myList

[42, 'dog', 3.142, 269]

>>> # remove the item at index 0 and assign it to a variable

>>> result = [Link](0)

>>> # display the removed item and the list


>>> result

42

>>> myList

['dog', 3.142, 269]

>>> # remove the last item

>>> [Link]()

269

>>> # display the list

>>> myList

['dog', 3.142]

You may have noticed that two different mechanisms are at work in these examples. Some of the things
we can do with lists involve functions . For instance

len(myList)

We can also join two lists together using the + operator.

>>> aList = [1, 2, 3, 5] + [8, 13, 21]

>>> aList

[1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21]

Note that lists can contain multiple copies of the same item.

>>> aList = [1, 2, 3, 5] + [5, 8, 13, 21]

>>> aList

[1, 2, 3, 5, 5, 8, 13, 21]

A very useful operation is called slicing . The next examples illustrate its use.

Notice that if a list is too long to fit on one line we can just press Enter and then continue the list on the
following line.

>>> aList = ['ant', 'bee', 'cicada',

... 'dragonfly', 'earwig', 'flea']

# slice from index 2 up to but not including index 4

>>> aList[2:4]
['cicada', 'dragonfly']

>>> # slice from index 3 to the end of the list

>>> aList[3:]

['dragonfly', 'earwig', 'flea']

>>> # slice from the beginning of the list up to but not including index 2

>>> aList[:2]

['ant', 'bee']

>>> # the original list is still intact

>>> aList

['ant', 'bee', 'cicada', 'dragonfly', 'earwig', 'flea']

Lists in Python can grow or shrink as items are added or removed. It’s very common to start with an
empty list and add items to it.

>>> list2 = []

>>> [Link](2)

>>> [Link](7)

>>> [Link](1)

>>> [Link](8)

>>> list2

[2, 7, 1, 8]

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