import random
def _partition(data: list, pivot) -> tuple:
less, equal, greater = [], [], []
for element in data:
if element < pivot:
less.append(element)
elif element > pivot:
greater.append(element)
else:
equal.append(element)
return less, equal, greater
def quick_select(items: list, index: int):
# index = len(items) // 2 when trying to find the median
# (value of index when items is sorted)
# invalid input
if index >= len(items) or index < 0:
return None
pivot = items[random.randint(0, len(items) - 1)]
count = 0
smaller, equal, larger = _partition(items, pivot)
count = len(equal)
m = len(smaller)
# index is the pivot
if m <= index < m + count:
return pivot
# must be in smaller
elif m > index:
return quick_select(smaller, index)
# must be in larger
else:
return quick_select(larger, index - (m + count))