+- Python Forum (https://python-forum.io)
+-- Forum: Python Coding (https://python-forum.io/forum-7.html)
+--- Forum: General Coding Help (https://python-forum.io/forum-8.html)
+--- Thread: How to terminate a list of inputs with a set value? SOS (/thread-21198.html)
How to terminate a list of inputs with a set value? SOS - Manning - Sep-18-2019
I am attempting to make a program in Python 3.7 where you would input integers one after another until you terminate it by entering the value -3. Once you input -3, the program would print the second highest number you've listed.
My current code is:
a=[]
n=int(input("Enter number:"))
for i in range(1,n+1):
n=int(input("Enter number:"))
a.append(n)
if n == -3:
break
a.sort()
print("Second largest number is:",a[n-2])I keep getting the error:Error:Traceback (most recent call last):
File "main.py", line 9, in <module>
print("Second largest number is:",a[n-2])
IndexError: list index out of rangeRE: How to terminate a list of inputs with a set value? SOS - ibreeden - Sep-18-2019
Please read https://python-forum.io/misc.php?action=help&hid=25 how to use code tags to format your question.
The error is because the first time your list a[] will have 1 item. So a[n-2] will yield a negative index. This is the error you get.
RE: How to terminate a list of inputs with a set value? SOS - scidam - Sep-19-2019
I don't see a "while" loop in your code. At least, you need to put "while True:" somewhere. You can use negative indexing to get the second element from the tail of a list. Finally, your solution is of O(n) space complexity (n the number of entered numbers); It would be useful if you try to find O(1) solution as well (i.e. without storing all entered numbers to a list).