Tuple indexing and slicing in Python - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output of tuple slicing with negative indices

What is the output of this Python code?

Python

t = (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60)
print(t[-4:-1])

A (40, 50, 60)

B (20, 30, 40)

C (30, 40, 50)

D (30, 40, 50, 60)

💡 Hint

Remember that slicing excludes the end index and negative indices count from the end.

The slice t[-4:-1] starts at index -4 (which is 30) and goes up to but not including index -1 (which is 60). So it includes 30, 40, and 50.

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Result of tuple indexing with nested tuples

What will be printed by this code?

Python

t = (1, (2, 3), 4, (5, 6, 7))
print(t[3][1])

A 6

B 5

C 7

D TypeError

💡 Hint

First index selects the nested tuple, second index selects element inside it.

t[3] is the tuple (5, 6, 7). Index 1 of that tuple is 6.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

Output of tuple slicing with step and negative step

What is the output of this code?

Python

t = (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
print(t[5:1:-2])

A (5, 4, 3, 2)

B (5, 3)

C (5, 3, 1)

D ()

💡 Hint

Slicing with a negative step goes backwards and excludes the end index.

t[5:1:-2] starts at index 5 (value 5), goes down to index 2 (since end is 1 but excluded), stepping by -2, so picks 5 and then 3.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

Value of variable after tuple slicing and concatenation

What is the value of variable result after running this code?

Python

t = (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
result = t[:2] + t[-2:]
print(result)

A (2, 3, 4)

B (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

C (3, 4, 5)

D (1, 2, 4, 5)

💡 Hint

Slicing t[:2] gets first two elements, t[-2:] gets last two elements, then they are joined.

t[:2] is (1, 2), t[-2:] is (4, 5), concatenated gives (1, 2, 4, 5).

❓ Predict Output

expert

Output of complex tuple slicing with omitted indices

What does this code print?

Python

t = (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70)
print(t[::3][1:])

A (40, 70)

B (10, 40, 70)

C (30, 60)

D (40, 50, 60, 70)

💡 Hint

First slice picks every 3rd element, second slice takes from index 1 to end.

t[::3] is (10, 40, 70). Then [1:] slices from index 1 to end, so (40, 70).

Practice

1.

What does my_tuple[2] return if my_tuple = (10, 20, 30, 40)?

easy

A. 30

B. 20

C. 40

D. 10

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand tuple indexing

   Indexing starts at 0, so index 2 means the third item in the tuple.

2. Step 2: Identify the item at index 2

   The tuple is (10, 20, 30, 40), so the item at index 2 is 30.

3. Final Answer:

   30 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Index 2 in tuple = 30 [OK]

Hint: Remember: indexing starts at zero in tuples [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Counting from 1 instead of 0
• Confusing index 2 with index 3
• Mixing up tuple with list indexing

2.

Which of the following is the correct syntax to get the last item of a tuple t?

easy

A. t[1]

B. t[-1]

C. t[last]

D. t[len(t)]

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall negative indexing in tuples

   Negative index -1 accesses the last item in a tuple.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   t[-1] correctly accesses the last item. t[1] accesses second item, t[last] is invalid syntax, t[len(t)] causes IndexError because indexing starts at 0.

3. Final Answer:

   t[-1] -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Last item index = -1 [OK]

Hint: Use -1 to get last item from any tuple [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using len(t) as index (out of range)
• Trying to use variable 'last' as index
• Confusing positive and negative indexes

3.

What is the output of this code?

t = (5, 10, 15, 20, 25)
print(t[1:4])

medium

A. (10, 15, 20)

B. (10, 15, 20, 25)

C. (5, 10, 15)

D. (15, 20, 25)

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand slicing syntax

   Slicing t[1:4] means start at index 1 up to but not including index 4.

2. Step 2: Extract the slice from the tuple

   Tuple is (5, 10, 15, 20, 25). Index 1 is 10, index 2 is 15, index 3 is 20. Index 4 (25) is excluded.

3. Final Answer:

   (10, 15, 20) -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Slicing excludes end index [OK]

Hint: Slice excludes the end index, so stop before it [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Including the end index in slice
• Confusing indexes with values
• Using parentheses instead of brackets for slicing

4.

Find the error in this code:

t = (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
print(t[5])

medium

A. Prints 5

B. SyntaxError

C. IndexError: tuple index out of range

D. Prints 1

Solution

1. Step 1: Check tuple length and indexing

   Tuple has 5 items indexed 0 to 4. Index 5 is outside this range.

2. Step 2: Understand what happens when accessing invalid index

   Accessing t[5] causes an IndexError because the index is out of range.

3. Final Answer:

   IndexError: tuple index out of range -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Index must be less than length [OK]

Hint: Index must be less than tuple length [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using index equal to length
• Confusing SyntaxError with IndexError
• Assuming last index is length instead of length-1

5.

Given t = (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12), which expression returns a tuple with every second item starting from the last item going backwards?

hard

A. t[1::2]

B. t[::2]

C. t[-2::-1]

D. t[::-2]

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand slicing with negative step

   A negative step means slicing backwards. t[::-2] starts from the end and takes every second item backwards.

2. Step 2: Check what t[::-2] returns

   Tuple is (2,4,6,8,10,12). t[::-2] picks 12 (last), 8, 4, resulting in (12, 8, 4).

3. Final Answer:

   t[::-2] -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Negative step slices backwards skipping items [OK]

Hint: Use negative step in slice to go backwards [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using positive step for backward slicing
• Starting slice incorrectly
• Confusing slice start and step positions