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Python Match Exercises

4 exercises that build on the Python match Statement lesson, from easy to hard. Each one is checked in your browser when you press Check. Stuck? Use the hint before peeking at the solution.

What this lesson covers: A match statement compares one value against a series of patterns, runs the first case that fits, and can pull pieces out of the value (such as the words of a command) at the same time. By the end you can write match/case with literal, wildcard, OR and capture patterns, add guards, match the shape of lists and tuples, parse a command string, and decide when if/elif is the better tool. You will practise: Weekend or weekday?; Which case runs?; Fix the text calculator; A tiny adventure interpreter.

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1. Weekend or weekday?

Write code Easy

Use a match statement on day to set the variable kind: it should be "weekend" for "Sat" or "Sun" (one case with |), and "weekday" for anything else (the wildcard _). Then print kind.

Try a few other days to see both outcomes, then set day back to "Sun" and press Check.

Your code 
day = "Sun"

# use match day: ... to set kind, then print it





  
  

  
  
  



    
  
    

  

    
2. Which case runs?

    Predict the output
    Medium
    
  

  
Read the code and type exactly what it will print. Work through the cases from top to bottom: does the pattern fit, and if it does, is the guard true? Then press Check to run it and compare.

  
    

  

    Read this code
    

      
      
    

  

  
data = ["move", 5, 0]
match data:
    case ["move", x, y] if y > 0:
        print("up", x, y)
    case ["move", x, 0]:
        print("flat", x)
    case ["move", *rest]:
        print("other move", rest)
    case _:
        print("unknown")
print("done")

  
  
  

  

    
      
      
      
      
    
    
  

  




  
  

  
  
  



    

  
    

  

    
3. Fix the text calculator

    Fix the bug
    Medium
    
  

  
calculate(line) should add two numbers for "add 2 3" (giving 5) and double a number for "double 4" (giving 8), but it returns "23" and "44". Fix it. Any other command should still return None.


A function is a named block of code: def introduces it, and return hands the answer back.

  
    

  

    Your code
    

      
      
      
      
    

  

  
def calculate(line):
    match line.split():
        case ["add", a, b]:
            return a + b
        case ["double", n]:
            return n * 2
        case _:
            return None


print(calculate("add 2 3"))
print(calculate("double 4"))

  
  
  
  

    
      
      
      
      
    
    
  

  




  
  

  
  
  



    
  
    

  

    
4. A tiny adventure interpreter

    Write code
    Hard
    
  

  
Write reply(command) using match command.split():. It returns a text:






command
reply






quit
Goodbye




go plus north, south, east or west
Walking <direction>




go plus any other single word
Cannot go <that word>




take followed by one or more items
Took: and the items joined with ,




anything else (a bare take, a bare go, empty text, ...)
Unknown command






The checker calls reply with many different commands, so cover all the rows.

  
    

  

    Your code
    

      
      
      
      
    

  

  
def reply(command):
    # use match command.split(): with a case for each row of the table
    return "Unknown command"


print(reply("quit"))
print(reply("go north"))
print(reply("take lamp key"))

  
  
  
  

    
      
      
      
      
    
    
  

  




  
  

  
  
  



    
  
  

    Next lessonPython for Loops
    
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