python

Question

Create a function called middle_element that has one parameter named lst.

If there are an odd number of elements in lst, the function should return the middle element. If there are an even number of elements, the function should return the average of the middle two elements.

def middle_element(lst):
if len(lst) % 2 == 0:
sum = lst[int(len(lst)/2)] + lst[int(len(lst)/2) - 1]
return sum / 2
else:
return lst[int(len(lst)/2)]

print(middle_element([5, 2, -10, -4, 4, 5]))

Output : -7

1) why -1 ? --> sum = lst[int(len(lst)/2)] + lst[int(len(lst)/2) - 1]

Answer 1

Because list index starts from 0.
int(len(lst)/2) returns 3
You need sum of values at indexes 2,3 for even length..

Answer 2

messiest code ive ever seen, even worse than your average java code 🤢