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Python

Posted by johnahodge
johnahodge
6,639 Points

I wanted to test out the different scopes of this example, so I added print statements to the function and it got weird.

So I added the code below and when I run it in my Python shell the result is 5 and a, not 10 and b like I would expect. Any thoughts on how that would happen?

num = 10
letter = 'b'

def set_num():
    num = 5
    letter = 'a'
    print(num)
    print(letter)

set_num()

For the record, I'm executing this script with phython3 functions.py

2 Answers

Mark Sebeck
MOD
Mark Sebeck
Treehouse Moderator 38,304 Points
Mark Sebeck
Mark Sebeck
Treehouse Moderator 38,304 Points

I would expect 5 and a to be printed inside the function. Inside those values would override. Try printing outside the function after the function call and you should get 10 and b.

johnahodge
johnahodge
6,639 Points
johnahodge
johnahodge
6,639 Points

It looks like that printed 10 and b. Thanks!

Mark Sebeck
Mark Sebeck
Treehouse Moderator 38,304 Points
Mark Sebeck
Mark Sebeck
Treehouse Moderator 38,304 Points

You are welcome. Another ‘fun’ thing to try would be to print the values in the function before you assign 5 and a. Should be 10 and b at that point.