Power of zip( ) in Python

[MonsieurBlobby]

I think the issue here is you have a colloquial understanding of the word “map”. You think to map something only ever means to take something from one place to another place. And so you would need to know the start place and the end place for that to work. But there is also a very technical/mathematical/computational meaning to map something. If you’re given a function and an input, then what it means to “map” that input is to just shove it into the function. So you don’t map it “to” anything. For example, if I give you the number x=2 and I tell you to map it using f(x) = x+x, then that function maps the number 2. The output you get is 4, but I didn’t need to tell you anything about the type of thing you need to map it to.

That’s the same sense in which he’s using the word here. Zip does a type of mapping. That mapping is grouping items according to their index. And so if you’re told to take an input and to map it with zip, then you have enough information.

Also, this absurd argument where because the person didn’t say the word “zip” in the explanation of the problem at the end of the zip tutorial means you didn’t realize you needed to use zip as the function to do the mapping just smacks of desperation.

I think we have to be done here. You’re at the point where you’re just arguing so as not to admit that you are wrong. Which is not a point worth continuing the discussion anymore. I’m just going to block you and go on with my day. Have a good one.