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Python Python Basics (2015) Python Data Types list.remove()

Posted by Frank Formica
Frank Formica
3,595 Points

I am not sure what this is asking me to do.

I know it wants me to remove the number 5 and 'clean up' this code but originally they're aren't five anything. I put five colors in. Should I put five states in? I am at I loss.

lists.py 
states = ['ACTIVE', 'CANCELLED', 'FINISHED',]
colors = ['red', 'green', 'blue','orange','purple',]
colors.remove.([5]),

3 Answers

Patrick Bluth
Patrick Bluth
13,285 Points
Patrick Bluth
Patrick Bluth
13,285 Points

Hi Frank,

I just viewed the challenge and gave it a shot. You're right that its kinda confusing but you are over thinking it. The first step is to just remove the element '5' ie the last element. The second step is to remove the array of colors. You do not have to separate each type of data into their own array. I passed the challenge doing the following:

states = [
    'ACTIVE',
    ['red', 'green', 'blue'],
    'CANCELLED',
    'FINISHED',
    5,
]

#completing step 1:
states.remove(5) 

#completing step 2:
states.remove(['red', 'green', 'blue'])

I hope that helps!

Gerald Wells
Gerald Wells
12,763 Points
Gerald Wells
Gerald Wells
12,763 Points

First off, don't edit the predefined code structure.

states = [
   'ACTIVE',
   ['red', 'green', 'blue'],
   'CANCELLED',
   'FINISHED',
   5,
]

this should still read as it does.

second: https://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/datastructures.html

list.remove(x)
    Remove the first item from the list whose value is x. It is an error if there is no such item.
  • Python is a very popular language, because of that there is a bunch of documentation at your disposal.
  • Python is an interpreted languange and due to the nature of how the code is run, you also have access to a python interpreter which can help you extrapolate any issue you may have.

So to remove an item, you can use the value or the index.

states.remove(states[-1]) 
# which is the same as 
states.remove(5)
# the second challenge asks you to remove the list of colors from the states list
states.remove(states[1])
# again this is the same as
states.remove(['red','green','blue'])
Frank Formica
Frank Formica
3,595 Points
Frank Formica
Frank Formica
3,595 Points

states = [ 'ACTIVE', ['red', 'green', 'blue'], 'CANCELLED', 'FINISHED', states.remove (5)

its giving me 'name states not defined'

Patrick Bluth
Patrick Bluth
13,285 Points

I'm not sure I understand what you are doing.

If you are entering your code as you wrote on that line, it is because you are declaring the states.remove command inside the array. The command must be type outside the array and after the array has been declared.

See my previous answer for this.