Python: Strange sort of list of numbers
Python Programming Puzzles: Exercise-97 with Solution
Write a Python program to find the following strange sort of list of numbers: the first element is the smallest, the second is the largest of the remaining, the third is the smallest of the remaining, the fourth is the smallest of the remaining, etc.
Input: [1, 3, 4, 5, 11] Output: [1, 11, 3, 5, 4] Input: [27, 3, 8, 5, 1, 31] Output: [1, 31, 3, 27, 5, 8] Input: [1, 2, 7, 3, 4, 5, 6] Output: [1, 7, 2, 6, 3, 5, 4]
Pictorial Presentation:

Sample Solution:
Python Code:
#License: https://bit.ly/3oLErEI
def test(nums):
if len(nums) < 2:
return nums
result = []
for i in range(len(nums)//2):
result.append(min(nums))
nums.remove(min(nums))
result.append(max(nums))
nums.remove(max(nums))
if len(nums) > 0:
result.append(nums[0])
if len(result) < 2*len(nums):
result.extend(nums[len(result) // 2 + 1:len(result) // 2 + 1 + len(nums) - len(result)])
return result
nums = [1, 3, 4, 5, 11]
print("Original list of numbers:")
print(nums)
print("Strange sort of list of said numbers:")
print(test(nums))
nums = [27, 3, 8, 5, 1, 31]
print("\nOriginal list of numbers:")
print(nums)
print("Strange sort of list of said numbers:")
print(test(nums))
nums = [1, 2, 7, 3, 4, 5, 6]
print("\nOriginal list of numbers:")
print(nums)
print("Strange sort of list of said numbers:")
print(test(nums))
Sample Output:
Original list of numbers: [1, 3, 4, 5, 11] Strange sort of list of said numbers: [1, 11, 3, 5, 4] Original list of numbers: [27, 3, 8, 5, 1, 31] Strange sort of list of said numbers: [1, 31, 3, 27, 5, 8] Original list of numbers: [1, 2, 7, 3, 4, 5, 6] Strange sort of list of said numbers: [1, 7, 2, 6, 3, 5, 4]
Flowchart:

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Python: Tips of the Day
Clamps num within the inclusive range specified by the boundary values x and y:
Example:
def tips_clamp_num(num,x,y): return max(min(num, max(x, y)), min(x, y)) print(tips_clamp_num(2, 4, 6)) print(tips_clamp_num(1, -1, -6))
Output:
4 -1
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