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Python Python Basics (2015) Letter Game App Random Item

Erik Luo
Erik Luo
3,810 Points

how to create a function named random_item that takes a an iterable as argument?

how to create a function named random_item that takes a an iterable as argument?

item.py
# EXAMPLE
# random_item("Treehouse")
# The randomly selected number is 4.
# The return value would be "h"
import random
def random_item(arg):
    random.randint(0, len(arg)) 
    return arg 

2 Answers

Chris Freeman
MOD
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,426 Points

You have the basic form of the answer. The task asks Then use random.randint() to get a random number between 0 and the length of the iterable, minus one. Return the iterable member that's at your random number's index.

You need to

  • subtract 1 from the len(arg)
  • assign the random result to a variable so it can be used to reference into the iterable argument. You can use "idx" as a common abbreviation for "index": idx = random.randint....
  • return the indexed item from iterable: return arg[idx]
Erik Luo
Erik Luo
3,810 Points

Thank you

Thomas Fildes
Thomas Fildes
22,687 Points

Hi Erik,

This challenge is a tricky one to pass but remember it asks you to return an integer between 0 and the iterable MINUS 1. Here is the code below:

import random

def random_item(arg):
    return arg[random.randint(0, len(arg)-1)]

As you can see this can be achieved all on one line of code inside the function.

Hope this helps. Happy Coding!

Erik Luo
Erik Luo
3,810 Points

Thank you