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Michelle Mangwiro
Courses Plus Student 467 PointsFunctions in python
I don't understand where I am going wrong. It would be best if you described it as simple as possible as I am only 13. Thanks
# add_list([1, 2, 3]) should return 6
# summarize([1, 2, 3]) should return "The sum of [1, 2, 3] is 6."
# Note: both functions will only take *one* argument each.
add_list([1, 2, 3])
1 Answer
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,441 PointsHi Michelle! Let's walk through the challenge.
Task 1 says "Make a function named add_list that takes a list. The function should then add all of the items in the list together and return the total. Assume the list contains only numbers. You'll probably want to use a for loop. You will not need to use input().
Step 1; "Make a function named add_list that takes a list...."
# making (or defining) a function is done with the keyword 'def' followed by
# the name of the function, the list of arguments, and a colon ':'. Here I am
# choosing to call the argument 'lst' (I don't use 'list' since it's a builtin function name)
def add_list(lst):
pass #temporary code block for now....
Step 2: " The function should then add all of the items in the list together..."
# replacing the temporary code block 'pass' with loop to add the list items together
def add_list(lst):
# set our current total to 0.
total = 0
# for each item in the passed-in argument 'lst'...
for item in lst:
# added each item to the total
total = total + item
Step 3: "and return the total."
# Add return statement
def add_list(lst):
# set our current total to 0.
total = 0
# for each item in the passed-in argument 'lst'...
for item in lst:
# added each item to the total
total = total + item
# return current total value
return total
Michelle Mangwiro
Courses Plus Student 467 PointsThank you
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,441 PointsChris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,441 PointsWhite Moses, one of the challenge purposes is to practice using a
forloop. The functionsum()has not yet been taught at this early stage of the course.