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Python Sorting Exercises

4 exercises that build on the Python Sorting 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: Sorting puts items in order: sorted() returns a new sorted list and leaves the original alone, list.sort() rearranges the list in place and returns None, and the key= function decides what Python compares. By the end you can sort with sorted() and .sort(), reverse an order, sort by any rule with key=, order tuples and dictionaries, sort on several fields at once, and pick the best item with min() or max(). You will practise: Leaderboard without changing the scores; Predict the three orders; Fix the tie-break order; League standings.

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1. Leaderboard without changing the scores

Write code Easy

Complete the function leaderboard(scores). It must return a new list with the scores from highest to lowest, and it must not change the list it receives (the caller may still need the original order).

Your code 
def leaderboard(scores):
    # return a NEW list, highest score first
    pass

results = [72, 95, 88, 61]
print(leaderboard(results))
print(results)





  
  

  
  
  



    
  
    

  

    
2. Predict the three orders

    Predict the output
    Easy
    
  

  
Read the code and type exactly what it prints, line by line. Then press Check to run it and compare.

  
    

  

    Read this code
    

      
      
    

  

  
words = ["banana", "apple", "Cherry", "Apple"]
print(sorted(words))
print(sorted(words, key=str.lower))
print(max(words, key=len))


  
  
  

  

    
      
      
      
      
    
    
  

  




  
  

  
  
  



    

  
    

  

    
3. Fix the tie-break order

    Fix the bug
    Medium
    
  

  
rank_players(entries) should return the (name, score) pairs with the highest score first, and players on the same score in A to Z order. The sort puts tied players in Z to A order instead. Fix the function.

  
    

  

    Your code
    

      
      
      
      
    

  

  
def rank_players(entries):
    # highest score first; ties in A-Z order
    return sorted(entries, key=lambda e: (e[1], e[0]), reverse=True)

print(rank_players([("Ben", 90), ("Asha", 90), ("Cara", 75), ("Dev", 82)]))


  
  
  
  

    
      
      
      
      
    
    
  

  




  
  

  
  
  



    
  
    

  

    
4. League standings

    Write code
    Hard
    
  

  
Write standings(teams). teams is a list of dictionaries with the keys "name", "points", "goals_for" and "goals_against". Return a list of team names ordered by:


    

  1. most points first,
    2. 

  2. then the best goal difference (goals_for - goals_against) first,
    3. 

  3. then the name from A to Z.
    4. 



Do not change the teams list you receive.

  
    

  

    Your code
    

      
      
      
      
    

  

  
def standings(teams):
    # return the team names, best team first
    pass

table = [
    {"name": "Lions", "points": 10, "goals_for": 14, "goals_against": 9},
    {"name": "Tigers", "points": 10, "goals_for": 12, "goals_against": 6},
    {"name": "Bears", "points": 7, "goals_for": 8, "goals_against": 8},
    {"name": "Wolves", "points": 10, "goals_for": 11, "goals_against": 6},
]
print(standings(table))


  
  
  
  

    
      
      
      
      
    
    
  

  




  
  

  
  
  



    
  
  

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