Simple question about Python lists

[Robert Kern]

Guilherme Polo wrote:
> On Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 5:47 PM, Eric <eric.shain at gmail.com> wrote:
>> I'm learning Python (while coming from MATLAB). One question I have is
>> that if I have a list with say 8 elements, and I want just a few of
>> them how do I select them out. In MATLAB, if I just want the first,
>> fifth and eighth element I might do something like this:
>>
>> b = a([1 5 8]);
>>
>> I can't seem to figure out a similar Python construct for selecting
>> specific indices. Any suggestions?
> 
> MATLAB works with 1-based index, while Python is 0-based, so accessing
> the index number 8 wouldn't be valid with 8 elements here in Python.
> 
> Now, to solve your problem you could either use the already suggested
> answer above mine or depending on what you what else you wanna do, you
> will feel more comfortable using numpy.
> 
> Supposing you have a array with 8 elements: x = numpy.arange(8)
> To pull out the first, fifth and eighth elements you would do:
> x[numpy.array([0, 4, 7])]

Actually, x[[0,4,7]] will work just as well.

-- 
Robert Kern

"I have come to believe that the whole world is an enigma, a harmless enigma
  that is made terrible by our own mad attempt to interpret it as though it had
  an underlying truth."
   -- Umberto Eco