Reverse list of last names
This is a problem set. Some of these are easy, others are far more difficult. The purpose of these problems sets are:
- to build your skill applying computational thinking to a problem
- to assess your knowledge and skills of different programming practices
What is this problem set trying to do[edit]
In this example we are learning about lists, loops, conditionals, and processing user input.
The Problem[edit]
You are given a list of names in a list. The list will only have one first name and one last name. You must construct a program to process the names so they are in reverse order by last name. YOU WILL NOT BE GIVEN AN ALPHABETICAL LIST!
for example:
names = ["Bill MacKenty", "Joe Shmoe", "Jan Kowalski", "Max Haltre"]
# the output should be:
Joe Shmoe, Bill MacKenty, Jan Kowalski, Max Haltre
How you will be assessed[edit]
Your solution will be graded using the following axis:
Scope
- To what extent does your code implement the features required by our specification?
- To what extent is there evidence of effort?
Correctness
- To what extent did your code meet specifications?
- To what extent did your code meet unit tests?
- To what extent is your code free of bugs?
Design
- To what extent is your code written well (i.e. clearly, efficiently, elegantly, and/or logically)?
- To what extent is your code eliminating repetition?
- To what extent is your code using functions appropriately?
Style
- To what extent is your code readable?
- To what extent is your code commented?
- To what extent are your variables well named?
- To what extent do you adhere to style guide?
References[edit]
A possible solution[edit]
Click the expand link to see one possible solution, but NOT before you have tried and failed!
# This code is used with consent from Daniel, who gave this to us on 25 September 2019
names = ["Bill MacKenty", "Joe Shmoe", "Jan Kowalski", "Max Zaltre"]
alphabet = "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ"
for name in names:
first_letter_name = name.split(" ")[1][0]
first_letter_names = names[0].split(" ")[1][0]
if(alphabet.index(first_letter_name) > alphabet.index(first_letter_names)):
current_name = name
del names[names.index(name)]
names.insert(0, current_name)
print(names)