Randomize List Order in Python (Challenge)

Introduction

In Python, a list is an ordered collection of items. Sometimes, we may want to randomize the order of the items in a list. This can be useful for games, simulations, or any other situation where we want to introduce an element of randomness. In this challenge, you will write a function that shuffles the items in a list.

Skills Graph

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Shuffle List

Problem

Write a function shuffle(lst) that takes a list as input and returns a new list with the same items in a randomized order. Your function should use the Fisher-Yates algorithm to shuffle the items in the list.

The Fisher-Yates algorithm works as follows:

Start with the last item in the list.

Generate a random index between 0 and the current index.

Swap the item at the current index with the item at the random index.

Move to the next item in the list and repeat steps 2-3 until all items have been shuffled.

Your function should not modify the original list. Instead, it should create a new list with the shuffled items.

You can assume that the input list will contain at least one item.

Example

foo = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] shuffled_foo = shuffle(foo) print(shuffled_foo) ## [3, 1, 4, 5, 2] print(foo) ## [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Summary

In this challenge, you wrote a function that shuffles the items in a list using the Fisher-Yates algorithm. This algorithm is a simple and efficient way to randomize the order of items in a list. By completing this challenge, you have gained a deeper understanding of how lists work in Python and how to manipulate them using functions.