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Python Python Basics (2015) Number Game App Squared

Jimmy Holway
Jimmy Holway
10,703 Points
Posted by Jimmy Holway
Jimmy Holway
10,703 Points

I get TypeError when running the attached code in the "Squared" code challege console but the desired result when runnin

I get:

Bummer! TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for ** or pow(): 'str' and 'int'

when I run the below code but it's working for me in Terminal.

squared.py 
# EXAMPLES
# squared(5) would return 25
# squared("2") would return 4
# squared("tim") would return "timtimtim"
def squared(n):
    val = ''
    try:
        if int(n):
            return n ** 2
    except ValueError:
            for i in n:
                val += n
            return val

3 Answers

Kourosh Raeen
Kourosh Raeen
23,733 Points
Kourosh Raeen
Kourosh Raeen
23,733 Points

There is no need for an if statement. In the try block just convert to an int then square it. In the except block multiply n by it's length per instructions, so no need for a loop there:

# EXAMPLES
# squared(5) would return 25
# squared("2") would return 4
# squared("tim") would return "timtimtim"
def squared(n):
  try:
    return int(n) ** 2
  except ValueError:
    return n * len(n)
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,007 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,007 Points

I'm assuming you'd rather have some hints instead of an outright spoiler.

A couple of issues I noticed:

  • if your function is given 0 (zero), it returns nothing ("None") instead of 0.
  • if your function is given a number as a string (like "2") it tries to square the string itself

Also, while it may not affect passing the challenge, there's a much simpler way to create a repeated string.

Jimmy Holway
Jimmy Holway
10,703 Points
Jimmy Holway
Jimmy Holway
10,703 Points

Thanks! I could see that Kourosh's answer was better than mine but your comment made me understand why.

Jimmy Holway
Jimmy Holway
10,703 Points
Jimmy Holway
Jimmy Holway
10,703 Points

Thanks Kourosh! Not great at boiling this stuff down to it's simplest state yet.

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,007 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,007 Points

Perhaps you did prefer a spoiler. :disappointed: