diff --git a/code_to_optimize/code_directories/simple_tracer_e2e/workload.py b/code_to_optimize/code_directories/simple_tracer_e2e/workload.py
index b549b0219..1d2168e4d 100644
--- a/code_to_optimize/code_directories/simple_tracer_e2e/workload.py
+++ b/code_to_optimize/code_directories/simple_tracer_e2e/workload.py
@@ -3,13 +3,11 @@
 
 def funcA(number):
     number = min(1000, number)
-    # The original for loop accumulating in k is removed as its result is unused
-
-    # Simplify the for loop by using sum with a range object (comment kept for reference)
-    # j = sum(range(number))  # This line is obsolete and removed for efficiency
-
-    # Use map(str, range(number)) in join for maximum efficiency
-    return " ".join(map(str, range(number)))
+    if number == 0:
+        return ""
+    # Bind str locally for minor speedup, and use a list comprehension
+    s = str  # micro-optimization
+    return " ".join([s(i) for i in range(number)])
 
 
 def test_threadpool() -> None: