gistfile1.txt

def stdDevOfLengths(L):
    """
    L: a list of strings

    returns: float, the standard deviation of the lengths of the strings,
      or NaN if L is empty.
    """
    if L:
        mean = float(sum([len(s) for s in L]))/float(len(L))
        stdDiv = 0.0
        for s in L:
            stdDiv += (len(s) - mean)**2
        return (stdDiv / len(L))**0.5
    else:
        return float('NaN')
def stdDevOfLengths(L):
    """
    L: a list of strings

    returns: float, the standard deviation of the lengths of the strings,
      or NaN if L is empty.
    """
    if L:
        mean = float(sum([len(s) for s in L]))/float(len(L))
        stdDiv = 0.0
        for s in L:
            stdDiv += (len(s) - mean)**2
        return (stdDiv / len(L))**0.5
    else:
        return float('NaN')