TypeError: can't multiply sequence by non-int of type 'str'

Question

I can multiply by num * len(num) in python shell but still i am getting this error : TypeError: can't multiply sequence by non-int of type 'str'

squared.py

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

def squared(num):
    try:
        int(num)
    except ValueError:
        return num * len(num)
    else:
        return num * num

Answer 1 · 2017-03-25T20:44:38Z

March 25, 2017 8:44pm

the int function returns a new value, it doesn't change the value of the variable passed in. In order to set num to the int type using the int function, you need to assign num, to the value that the int function returns.

Like so:

# ...
try:
  num = int(num)
except ValueError:
# ...

Answer 2 · 2017-03-25T20:45:20Z

March 25, 2017 8:45pm

your code is fine you just need to tweak your try block a little. int(num) isn't re-setting num as an int. for that you just need to re-assign to num an int cast of itself. then the code will pass.

Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Looking to learn something new?

Ayaz Alam

Ayaz Alam

TypeError: can't multiply sequence by non-int of type 'str'

2 Answers

Samuel Ferree

Samuel Ferree

james south

james south