"""accepts a multi dimensional array and returns a flattened version"""

def flatten_array(orig):

"""returns a new, flattened, list"""

flattened_list = []

for item in orig:

if isinstance(item, list):

flattened_list += flatten_array(item)

else:

flattened_list.append(item)

return flattened_list

def flatten_in_place(orig):

"""flattens a given list in place"""

is_flattened = False

while not is_flattened: # iterating until no more lists are found

is_flattened = True

for i, item in enumerate(orig):

if isinstance(item, list):

is_flattened = False

orig = orig[:i] + item + orig[i + 1:]

return orig