How to extend a tuple of tuples?

[Frank Millman]

Hi all

This should be easy, but I cannot figure it out.

Assume you have a tuple of tuples -

a = ((1, 2), (3, 4))

You want to add a new tuple to it, so that it becomes -

    ((1, 2), (3, 4), (5, 6))

The obvious way does not work -

a += (5, 6)

    ((1, 2), (3, 4), 5, 6)

I have discovered that there is something new in python 3.5 that does work -

a = (*a, (5, 6))

    ((1, 2), (3, 4), (5, 6))

But how would you have done it before? I know you can convert the outer 
tuple to a list, add the new tuple, and convert it back again. Is that the 
only solution?

BTW, I do know that tuples are immutable, and that all of the above 
operations create a new tuple.

Frank Millman