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Python Python Basics (2015) Number Game App Squared

Ian perry
Ian perry
2,674 Points
Posted by Ian perry
Ian perry
2,674 Points

Just feeling lost.

Just on this Squared challenge and feeling lost to what they are looking for tbh?

3 Answers

Tobias Helmrich
Tobias Helmrich
31,603 Points
Tobias Helmrich
Tobias Helmrich
31,603 Points

Hey Ian,

at first you have to define your function. Then you should create a try block where you change your argument to an integer with the int method. If this doesn't work for some reason, because it's a string for example, you want to catch the error and return the argument multiplied with the length of the argument which you get with the len method. If there's no error you can just return the square of the argument with num ** 2 or num * num.

This is a working example how you could do it:

# EXAMPLES
# squared(5) would return 25
# squared("2") would return 4
# squared("tim") would return "timtimtim"
def squared(num):
  try:
    num = int(num)
  except ValueError:
    return num * len(num)
  return num ** 2

I hope that helps, if not or you have further questions feel free to ask them, good luck! :)

Ian perry
Ian perry
2,674 Points
Ian perry
Ian perry
2,674 Points

You know when you just need to hear things in plain english.

Thanks Tobias :)

Melanie Villela
Melanie Villela
3,048 Points
Melanie Villela
Melanie Villela
3,048 Points

Hi Tobias,

I have a question. I know this challenge wants us to use "try" and "except" but couldn't you also do "if" and "else"? Unless I missed it the video did not really go over what is ValueError. Is ValueError only used with the try and except functions? Does ValueError only work to check whether the previous try function is a str or int, whichever is specified?