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Python Python Basics (2015) Number Game App Squared

Russell Berry
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Russell Berry
Python Web Development Techdegree Student 1,640 Points
Posted by Russell Berry
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Russell Berry
Python Web Development Techdegree Student 1,640 Points

int(booger * booger) vs int(booger) ** 2

So I got a cant multiply a non integer error for the first set of code, the second set worked fine.

Can someone briefly explain to me again why the top code doesn't work? Is it because the second set of code turns booger into an int before squaring it?

squared.py 
#MY CODE
def squared(booger):
    try:
        int(booger)
    except:
        return booger * len(booger)
    else:
        return int(booger * booger)
#=======================================
#=======================================
#GOOGLED CODE
def squared(booger):
    try:
        int(booger)
    except:
        return booger * len(booger)
    else:
        return int(booger) ** 2

1 Answer

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
230,995 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
230,995 Points

It looks like you answered your own question.

The answer is "because the second set of code turns booger into an int before squaring it". You can't multiply a string by another string.

Since you're trying to convert to integer in the try area, you could save the result and use it later instead of converting again:

def squared(booger):
    try:
        bogey = int(booger)
    except:
        return booger * len(booger)
    else:
        return bogey * bogey