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Python Python Basics (2015) Number Game App Squared

Posted by dima Dima
dima Dima
901 Points

How do I solve it

I need to write a function named squared that takes a single argument.

If the argument can be converted into an integer, convert it and return the square of the number (num ** 2 or num * num).

If the argument cannot be turned into an integer, return the argument multiplied by its length. how can I convert a string to an integer

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






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

1 Answer

Chris Freeman
MOD
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,441 Points
Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,441 Points

You're very close. int(num) will check if the conversion is possible but it doesn't retain the converted value. Either, update num with assigned conversion:

    try:
        int = int(num)
        return num * num
    except....

Or convert in the `return statement:

    try:
        return int(num) * int(num)
    except....