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Python Python Basics (2015) Number Game App Squared

Kyler Smith
Kyler Smith
10,110 Points
Posted by Kyler Smith
Kyler Smith
10,110 Points

Python function not returning correctly

I'm using IDLE to preview the function I have wrote and in the IDE I am using it will return the correct answer. Any ideas?

squared.py 
# EXAMPLES
# squared(5) would return 25
# squared("2") would return 4
# squared("tim") would return "timtimtim"

def squared(x):
    count = 0

    try:
      int(x)
      returnVal = x * x

    except TypeError:
        listX = list(x)
        for val in listX:
            count += 1
        returnVal = x * count
    except ValueError:
        listX = list(x)
        for val in listX:
            count += 1
        returnVal = x * count

    return returnVal

3 Answers

Alexander Davison
Alexander Davison
65,469 Points
Alexander Davison
Alexander Davison
65,469 Points

Try this:

def squared(a):
  try:
    return int(a) ** 2
  except ValueError:
    return a * len(a)
Florian Tönjes
seal-mask
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree seal-36
Florian Tönjes
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Graduate 50,856 Points
Florian Tönjes
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree seal-36
Florian Tönjes
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Graduate 50,856 Points

Hey Kyler,

the challenge wants you to return the argument multiplied by it's length, if it cannot be converted to an integer. If you pass in "tim", the length of the string is three, so you should multiply it by that and return "timtimtim". Currently you convert it into a list which then only has the element "tim" and a length of one, while the actual argument, the string, has a length of three.

Try this instead:

 except:
    return x * len(x)

Kind Regards, Florian

Kyler Smith
Kyler Smith
10,110 Points
Kyler Smith
Kyler Smith
10,110 Points

Thanks but I altered my code to match your way of doing it as so:

def squared(inputValue): try: int(inputValue) returnVal = inputValue ** 2 except: returnVal = inputValue * len(inputValue)

return returnVal

Still same issue, 'squared' did not return the right answer

Kyler Smith
Kyler Smith
10,110 Points
Kyler Smith
Kyler Smith
10,110 Points

Sorry i thought it would format better when I posted it. I will fix soon

Florian Tönjes
seal-mask
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree seal-36
Florian Tönjes
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Graduate 50,856 Points
Florian Tönjes
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree seal-36
Florian Tönjes
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Graduate 50,856 Points

So this is your code now:

def squared(inputValue): 
    try: 
        int(inputValue) returnVal = inputValue ** 2 
    except: 
        returnVal = inputValue * len(inputValue)

    return returnVal

Why do you put 'int(inputValue)' in front of the variable 'returnVal'? It seems you are mixing it up with Java or another type safe language now.

Your code adjusted:

def squared(inputValue): 
    try: 
        x = int(inputValue)
        returnVal =  x ** 2 
    except: 
        returnVal = inputValue * len(inputValue)

    return returnVal

Kind Regards, Florian