Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

Python Python Basics (2015) Number Game App Squared

Lost on challenge: try and except

I'd appreciate a little help on this one. I think I'm fuzzy on "try" and "except."

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

def squared(arg):
  while True:
    try:
      return arg ** 2
    except ValueError:
      return arg * len(arg)

1 Answer

Chris Freeman
MOD
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,441 Points

In the second example, the code needs to be able to handle integers as strings. Add an int() wrapper:

def squared(arg):
  while True:
    try:
      return int(arg) ** 2
    except ValueError:
      return arg * len(arg)