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Python Python Basics (2015) Letter Game App Even or Odd Loop

Posted by Simon Willcocks
Simon Willcocks
5,342 Points

Python challenge task, even_odd function. i put in two print statements, and get Wrong number of prints error

Not sure what I've done wrong with this one, its saying I've got the wrong number of prints, but had been asked to put only 2 in.

even.py 
import random

def even_odd(num):
    # If % 2 is 0, the number is even.
    # Since 0 is falsey, we have to invert it with not.
    return not num % 2

start = 5

while start is True:
    thing = random.randint(1, 99)
    if even_odd(thing) is True:
        print("{} is odd".format(thing))
    else:
        print("{} is even".format(thing))

    start = start - 1

2 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,248 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,248 Points

A test for "truthiness" is not the same as a test for identity.

while start is True:

The variable start holds an integer, so it will never be identical to True. But you can test for "truthiness" just by naming the variable:

while start:

You have the same issue with the if statement. Also, once you remove the identity test, you will need to reverse the output phrases since the even_odd() function is true when the number is even.

agzagi
agzagi
2,399 Points

THANK YOU!!! This was driving me insane as well, and it was all because of "while start is True". After your explanation, it makes perfect sense, that a certain value never is True, but rather "truthy".

Thank you Steven

Simon Willcocks
Simon Willcocks
5,342 Points
Simon Willcocks
Simon Willcocks
5,342 Points

Thanks Steven, that all worked a treat.