Question

What will the following code display? numbers = list(range(3)) print(numbers)

Short answer

```python numbers = list(range(3)) print(numbers) ``` Answer: The output will be `[0, 1, 2]`.

Step-by-step solution

Creating a list

The given code is used to create a list of numbers using the `range()` function. The 'range()' function generates a sequence of consecutive numbers up to a specified end. In our case, the end is specified as 3. Therefore, the sequence generated by 'range(3)' will be 0, 1, and 2 since it starts from 0 (default behavior) and goes up to but doesn't include 3.

Using the range function to create the list

Now that we know how the sequence is generated using the 'range()' function, we can create the list 'numbers' using 'list(range(3))'. This will convert the sequence generated by the range function (0, 1, 2) into a list format: [0, 1, 2].

Printing the list

Finally, the 'print(numbers)' statement will print the resulting list '[0, 1, 2]' to the console.

Key concepts

Understanding the Range Function

The `range()` function in Python is an incredibly useful tool for generating sequences of numbers. It starts with a default value of 0 and increases by increments of 1 up to, but not including, the specified end number. The syntax of the function is: `range(start, stop[, step])`. Here, `start`, `stop`, and `step` are the function parameters.
- **Start**: This optional parameter specifies the beginning number in the sequence. If omitted, it defaults to 0. - **Stop**: This is a mandatory argument. The sequence will stop before this number. - **Step**: This optional parameter determines the increments between the numbers in the range. If no step is given, the numbers increment by default by 1.
For example, `range(3)` produces numbers starting from 0 up to 2 (not including 3). It is often used in loops and various programming logic. Knowing how to manipulate it can simplify a lot of tasks in coding.

Creating Lists with the Range Function

In Python, lists are versatile and can include a sequence of any data type. When combined with the `range()` function, you can easily create lists of numbers. When you want to convert a range object into a list, you can pass it through the `list()` function like so: `list(range(n))`. This converts the sequence generated into list format.
For example, `list(range(3))` will convert the numbers generated by `range(3)`—which are 0, 1, and 2—into a list: `[0, 1, 2]`.

• Provides a way to quickly generate a list of number sequences without manually typing each number.
• Greatly useful for loops where you need a list of indices, or for quickly generating test data.

Utilizing `range()` with `list()` in this way is efficient and keeps your code clean and readable. It reduces the chances of error when manually typing large sequences.

Printing in Python

The `print()` function is one of the most frequently used functions in Python. It outputs data to the console so that users can see what is happening within the program. While it's simple to use, it's crucial for debugging and providing instant feedback to users.
To print something, you simply pass the object as an argument to the `print()` function. In the context of our exercise, `print(numbers)` will output `[0, 1, 2]` to the console.

• Allows developers to display strings, numbers, and various data structures.
• Supports multiple arguments; when multiple items are printed, they are separated by space by default.

Printing is essential during development to check results and ensure your logic is working as intended. Its ease of use makes it a preferred choice for both beginners and experienced coders to visually inspect output at different stages of a program.