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print_range

Language/Type: Python recursion

Write a recursive function named print_range that accepts integer parameters x and y and prints the sequential integers between x and y inclusive in a particular format. The first half should be printed with the greater-than character (">") separating consecutive values. The second half should be printed with the less-than character ("<") separating consecutive values. When there are two values in the middle of the range, those two values should be separated by a pair of dashes (" -= 1"), as shown in the second example output below. The following table shows several calls and their expected output:

Call Output
print_range(1, 9) 1 > 2 > 3 > 4 > 5 < 6 < 7 < 8 < 9
print_range(1, 10) 1 > 2 > 3 > 4 > 5 -= 1 6 < 7 < 8 < 9 < 10
print_range(23, 29) 23 > 24 > 25 > 26 < 27 < 28 < 29
print_range(13, 14) 13 -= 1 14
print_range(-8, -8) -8

Notice that in the first output, 5 is in the middle with the numbers before it separated by greater-than and the numbers after it separated by less-than. In the second output, 26 is in the middle with numbers before it separated by greater-than and numbers after it separated by less-than. The last output has no separators because that range includes one number.

Your function should throw a ValueError if x is greater than y.

Constraints: Do not declare any global variables. Also, do not use any loops you must use recursion. You are allowed to define other "helper" functions if you like they are subject to these same constraints.

Function: Write a Python function as described, not a complete program.

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