Could you explain the solution to front_back google python exercise : <p>I am looking for an explanation to the solution to the front_back google python exercise. Specifically, I do not understand why the % symbol (placeholder?) is used. I also do not understand why the length of the strings are divided by 2. Especially since 2 does not equal 1 (2==1??)</p>

<p>The problem/solution is as follows:</p>

<pre><code># F. front_back
# Consider dividing a string into two halves.
# If the length is even, the front and back halves are the same length.
# If the length is odd, we'll say that the extra char goes in the front half.
# e.g. 'abcde', the front half is 'abc', the back half 'de'.
# Given 2 strings, a and b, return a string of the form
#  a-front + b-front + a-back + b-back
def front_back(a, b):
  # +++your code here+++
  # LAB(begin solution)
  # Figure out the middle position of each string.
  a_middle = len(a) / 2
  b_middle = len(b) / 2
  if len(a) % 2 == 1:  # add 1 if length is odd
    a_middle = a_middle + 1
  if len(b) % 2 == 1:
    b_middle = b_middle + 1 
  return a[:a_middle] + b[:b_middle] + a[a_middle:] + b[b_middle:]
  # LAB(replace solution)
  # return
  # LAB(end solution)
</code></pre>

<p>THANK YOU!</p>
