What does xi stand for?

Question

x = 2
a = [x**3-1 for xi in range(7)]
b = [x**3-1 for x in range(7)]

a and b gives different outputs

Where is xi defined? What is xi?

Answer 1

Yes, you are absolutely correct. We can name it anything we want, it's just used to enumerate the number within the range (0 ... 6).

I don't know what was meant by that TBH, but if it came from some challenge, perhaps it was meant as a distraction, to test on player's focus : )

Answer 2

<xi> is just another variable used in a list comprehension. The reason why <a> differs to <b> is that the list <a> uses variable <x> which is defined earlier (first line)

Answer 3

Ipang
What I have also noticed is that it doesn't have to be xi. It can be anything, eg _, xanything, joseph, ipang, x3 etc.
Are you saying xi is meaningless here and that it is meant to confuse?