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Python Python Basics (2015) Number Game App Squared

Posted by Mykiel Horn
Mykiel Horn
4,014 Points

How come my function doesn't take in any number that I use as an argument in a string?

In this function I am trying to have to outcomes of: squared("tim") #will return timtimtim squared(2) #will return 4 squared("4") #will return 16

Everything works until I place "4" into my arguments. After hours of searching through the internet I still couldn't find an answer. But I eventually just played around with somethings and I figured it out. But I was just wondering how come the int() function doesn't work when I place a string of numbers in it?

arg = "squared"
def squared(arg):
  try:
    if arg == int(arg):
      print(arg ** 2)
  except ValueError:
      print(arg * len(arg))
squared("4")

1 Answer

AJ Salmon
AJ Salmon
5,675 Points
AJ Salmon
AJ Salmon
5,675 Points

Because arg is not equal to int(arg). With your example, that'd compare the string '4' to the integer 4, and the == comparator checks exact equality. A string and an integer can't be exactly equal, they're different class types, so it won't print. But because there's no ValueError, it won't print the string either, so it does nothing. Hopefully this clears it up a bit! :)