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Python Python Basics (2015) Number Game App Squared

Christopher Borchardt
Christopher Borchardt
2,908 Points
Posted by Christopher Borchardt
Christopher Borchardt
2,908 Points

I can't complete the squared challenge

This challenge is similar to an earlier one. Remember, though, I want you to practice! You'll probably want to use try and except on this one. You might have to not use the else block, though. 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 (maybe it's a string of non-numbers?), return the argument multiplied by its length. Look in the file for examples.

That is the challenge. I've run the code in workspace and it works with all the test values listed. I've tried with just except ValueError, I've tried with just TypeError, both come back with errors that basically just say 'try again' If i use both of them, or just use "except:" in the code it comes back that 'squared' did not return the correct results.

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

def squared(num):
    try:
        int(num)
        return num * num
    except ValueError:
        return num * len(num)
    except TypeError:
        return num * len(num)
Daniel Escobar
Daniel Escobar
2,580 Points
Daniel Escobar
Daniel Escobar
2,580 Points

it says to catch an exception but does not state if ValueError or TypeError. If you do it with just except, it would work just fine!

3 Answers

Haider Ali
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree seal-36
Haider Ali
Python Development Techdegree Graduate 24,728 Points

Hi Christopher. In this challenge, it does not ask us to catch a specific error. Because of this, you should just write except and it will catch any error that comes up:

def squared(num):
    try:
        num = int(num) #try to turn num into integer
        return num * num #try to return num squared
    except: #if an error comes up
        return num * len(num) #just return num multiplied by its length

Thanks,

Haider

Assma Al-Adawi
Assma Al-Adawi
8,723 Points

Why can't I just use if and else in this challenge? I feel like it makes more sense and is more intuitive...

Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith
766 Points

Hello, I hope you see this comment. In the comments you wrote "try to turn num into integer". If the user inputs a number shouldn't python recognize it as an integer? (I'm not implying you're wrong, I just don't get why you have to declare a number as an integer)

jcorum
jcorum
71,830 Points
jcorum
jcorum
71,830 Points

Here you go:

def squared(num):
  try:
    return (int(num) ** 2)
  except ValueError:
    return (str(num) * len(num))
Qasa Lee
Qasa Lee
18,916 Points
Qasa Lee
Qasa Lee
18,916 Points

Cool as mine LOL!

Christopher Borchardt
Christopher Borchardt
2,908 Points
Christopher Borchardt
Christopher Borchardt
2,908 Points

I have tried except, and it came back saying that the number was wrong (that the code returned a wrong value). For some reason it was not accepting num * num as a valid code. when i changed it back to num ** 2 it went through fine.