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Chapter 18: Problem 5

What gets printed by this, and why? \(\gg>\) def func \((a, b, c=3, d=4)\) : print \((a, b, c, d)\) \(\gg\) func \((1, *(5,6))\)

Short Answer

Expert verified
It prints `(1, 5, 6, 4)` because the tuple `(5, 6)` is unpacked to fill the parameters `b` and `c`.

Step by step solution

01

- Understand the function definition

The function `func` is defined to take four parameters: `a`, `b`, `c` with a default value of 3, and `d` with a default value of 4. The function prints these parameters as a tuple.
02

- Analyze the function call with arguments

The function is called with the arguments `1, *(5, 6)`. The asterisk (*) operator is used to unpack the tuple `(5, 6)` into the positional arguments. This means `a` will be assigned the value `1`, `b` will be assigned `5`, and `c` will be assigned `6`. The default value of `d` remains `4` because no other argument is provided for `d`.
03

- Construct the tuple to be printed

Based on the assignments from the previous step, the tuple passed to the `print` function will be `(1, 5, 6, 4)`.
04

- Predict the output

When the function `func(1, *(5, 6))` is executed, it will print the tuple `(1, 5, 6, 4)`.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Default Arguments
In Python, functions can have default arguments. These are values that get used if no argument is provided for that parameter when the function is called. This allows functions to be more flexible and easier to use.
For example, in the function definition `func(a, b, c=3, d=4)`, `c` has a default value of `3` and `d` has a default value of `4`. If you call `func` without providing values for `c` or `d`, Python will use the default values.
This feature is helpful because it reduces the need to specify values for every parameter each time you call the function. Default arguments are placed at the end of the parameter list in the function definition.
Tuple Unpacking
Tuple unpacking allows you to break a tuple into individual elements. The asterisk (*) operator is used to unpack tuple values into separate positional arguments when calling a function.
In the function call `func(1, *(5, 6))`, the tuple `(5, 6)` gets unpacked to provide the values for `b` and `c`. The `*` operator spreads the tuple into its constituent elements, so it appears as if you are passing `1, 5, 6` to the function `func`.
Using tuple unpacking can make function calls more concise and readable, especially when dealing with tuples or lists as function arguments.
Positional Arguments
Positional arguments are the most basic types of arguments used in calling a function. They are assigned to the corresponding parameters in the function definition based on their order.
For instance, in `func(1, 5, 6)`, `1` gets passed to `a`, `5` to `b`, and `6` to `c`. When unpacking a tuple into positional arguments, it's crucial to ensure the number of elements matches the expected number of parameters.
In the function call `func(1, *(5, 6))`, the position makes all the difference: `1` is assigned to `a`, `5` is assigned to `b`, and `6` is assigned to `c` by virtue of their positions in the argument list.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

What is the output of this code, and why? \(\gg \gg\) def func \((a, b, c=5)\) : \(\operatorname{print}(a, b, c)\) \(\gg>\operatorname{func}(1, c=3, b=2)\)

What does this code print, and why? \(\gg \gg\) def func(a, \({ }^{* *}\) kargs): print(a, kargs) \(\gg\) func \((a=1, c=3, b=2)\)
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