lists tutorial for GSMST number theory

lists.py

# sometimes we want to keep track of lots of things, without naming
# each one individually

# we want to read some names from the user

# what if we want to hold onto all of the names and do something with
# them later?

# for instance, we want to print them in reverse

names = [] # this is [ ]. this is called a LIST
while True:
    name = raw_input('Enter a name: ')
    if name == 'quit':
        break
    names.append(name) # this adds "name" to the end of the list "names"

print names

# if we want to get a specific element from the list, we can do:

print names[0] # this accesses the first element in the list
print names[2] # this accesses the 3rd element in the list

# how many elements are IN the list?
print len(names)

# we can reassign elements of the list:

names[1] = 13
print names

# we can delete items from a list

del names[1]
# this will remove the item in the 1 position AND SHIFT EVERYTHING DOWN
print names

# let's add another number
names.append(27)
print names

result = sorted(names)
print result

nums = [12, 5, 7, 18, 127, -1337]
print nums
print sorted(nums) # the sorted function DOES NOT modify the original list.
print nums # this will be the original list