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Python Python Basics (2015) Number Game App Squared

Posted by ryan smith
ryan smith
687 Points

Why wont this work

def squared(argument):
    try:
        if argument == int(argument):
            return(argument * argument)
    except ValueError:
        return(argument * len(argument))
Anton Kamynin
Anton Kamynin
20,412 Points
Anton Kamynin
Anton Kamynin
20,412 Points

Hi, Ryan. You do not need to use if statement, because 'try' and 'except' are conditional statements by themself. If 'try' works - good. If it`s not - moving to except.
Use 'try' to return square of argument, like this:

try: 

return int(argument) ** 2
ryan smith
ryan smith
687 Points

Anton Kamynin I figured it out but I'm just curious... this is what works

def squared(argument):
    try:
        argument = int(argument)
        return(argument * argument)
    except ValueError:
        return(argument * len(argument))

but doesn't the following make sense... with == instead of = because = is assigning?

argument == int(argument)

1 Answer

Chris Freeman
MOD
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,457 Points
Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,457 Points

Using double-equals is a comparison that yields a True/False value. Regardless of the comparison results, argument is not altered. Then squared("5") would raise an error in the multiplication and the result would be "5" (the string times it length) instead of 25.

Using the single-equals assigns the converted value to the local variable argument that can be properly used in the multiplication.