how do i convert an argument in my function to float. This is python.

Question

Let's make sure we're always working with floats. Convert your arguments to floats before you add them together. You can do this with the float() function.
The first question says to create a function add that takes two arguments and returns their sum. The second question is above.
This is what I did and I think should be correct:
def add(x,y):
    return(float(x +y)
It worked on my python shell on my computer but i keep getting a wrong feedback in the quiz.

Ryan Ruscett · Accepted Answer

Hola,
So the question says 
create a function add the two arguments and returns their sum
```python
def add(x , y):
    return x + y
```
At this point we assume we are just adding numbers together. 
Let's make sure we're always working with floats. Convert your arguments to floats before you add them together. You can do this with the float() function.
Ok let's make sure no matter what comes in it's converted to a float
```python
def add(x , y):
    a = float(x)
    b = float(y)
    return a + b
```
Ok now I converted each value to a float. It could be any whole number or float passed in, and no matter what it is, I am going to turn it into a float.
BUT WAIT? What happens if I pass in a string? That can't be converted to a float. When a string like "hello" is converted into a float, it fails. It gives you a ValueError. Meaning the value can't be converted to float. can't convert a text string into a float. So we catch that and return nothing. Otherwise we were able to convert them both successfully and return true. 
This might be the 3/3 in the challenge I think.
```python
def add(x, y)
    try:
        a = float(x)  
        b = float(y)
    except ValueError:
        return None
     else:
        return True
```
Let me know if this makes sense or not. If not I can attempt to approach it another way.
Thanks!

Felipe Marconatto Ochman · Answer

hi, this work for me! 
  def add(a,b):
  return float(a) + float(b)

Vedran Linić · Answer

Fore final challange this is the code that i used
def add(num1, num2):
    try:
        return float(num1) + float(num2)
    except ValueError:
        return None
    else:
        print(num1 + num2)

paul chon · Answer

assign the process of adding the two floats into a variable.
```
def add(x, y):
    try:        
        a = float(x)
        b = float(y)
        total = a + b
    except ValueError:
        return None
    else:
        return total
```

Thomas Souza · Answer

def add(num1, num2):
    a = float(num1)
    b = float(num2) 
    return (a+b)

Jason Turla · Answer

This worked for me. What I seem to have done differently than what others have shown is making 'total' a variable and return the variable. In the first part  total = a + b then it needs to be changed since they were changed to a float.
def add(a,b):
    try:
        x = float(a)
        y = float(b)
        total = x + y
        return total
    except ValueError:
        return None
    else:
        return total

B W · Answer

def add(dance, play):
    try:
        a = float(dance)
        b = float(play)
    except ValueError:
        return None
    else:
        total = a + b
    return total

bviengineer · Answer

The following worked for me:
def add(num1, num2):
    try:
        num1F = float(num1)
        num2F = float(num2)
    except ValueError:
        return None
    else:
        total = num1F + num2F
        return total

Rehan Hussain · Answer

Gusy - Why isn't this code running this is so frustrating! They need to have a live chat or something, such a waste of time! 
def add(x, y):
    try:
        a = float(x)  
        b = float(y)
    except ValueError:
        return None
    else:
        return x + y

piper piperian · Answer

Yes, for me the prob was the indentation! So even with a correct code, it will throw an error if you are not watchful of the spacings.

kevin O'Brien · Answer

Make sure all of the indentations are correct! I input all of these codes and the only thing incorrect was improper indentation. So if you're stuck and you know your syntax is correct, make sure the indents are proper! Thanks!

reza rahnama · Answer

def add (exe1, exe2):
    try:
        a = float (exe1)
        b = float (exe2)
        total = a + b
except ValueError:
    return None
else:
    return total
I have tried various combinations and not able to get this to work,   Can some one advise whats wrong with the above syntax as logically I can't figure it out why it wouldn't work

ANDY VAN DEN BOS · Answer

the answer:
def add(num1, num2):
    try:
        a = float(num1)
        b = float(num2)
    except ValueError:
        return None
    else:
        return a + b
Now keep in mind "try, except, and else" must all be in line with each other as in- properly indented. 
Hope someone finds this sooner then It took me!

Aron Katz · Answer

I am getting no where fast on this last challenge too, it's been wasting a lot of my time and makes no sense, I have just about had enough.
def add(num1, num2):
    try:
        a = float(num1)  
        b = float(num2)
    except ValueError:
        return None
      else:
        return (float(a + b))

Bo Winters · Answer

def add(a, b): try: a = float(a) b = float(b) except ValueError: return None else: return(float(a + b))  
After trying everything else, this one finally worked for me!

Jarrod Gillis · Answer

BASIC CONFIGURATION:
def add(points, rebounds):
        points = float(points)
        rebounds = float(rebounds)
    return(points + rebounds)
WITH TRY AND EXCEPT:
def add(points, rebounds):
    try:
        points = float(points)
        rebounds = float(rebounds)
    except ValueError:
        return None
    else:        
        return(points + rebounds)

Paul Je · Answer

Is there a complete answer? Haha I tried mine using some of the tips on here and still can't figure it out.. my code looks like this:
def add(x, y):
try: 
    a = float(x)
    b = float(y)
except ValueError:
    return None
  else:
        return True 
    return(a + b)

Cristobal Ortiz-Ortiz · Answer

had try different variant without luck what i am missing???
phython
def add(hola,hello):
    try  
      a = float(hola)
      b = float(hello)
    except ValueError:
      return None
    else:
      return(float(a + b))

youssef moustahib · Answer

How is a float a letter?

Ivan K · Answer

helle everybody!
do you know, why my code doesn't work?:
def add(one, two):
    try:  
      o = float(one)
      t = float(two)
      except ValueError:
        return None
      else:  
      return (o+t)

Kory Hoopes · Answer

What am I doing wrong here?
python
def add(x, y)
  try:
    a = float(x)
    b = float(y)
  except ValueError:
    return None
  else:
    return True
    a = float(x)
    b = float(y)
    return a + b

Kong Cheong · Answer

Hi Rasheed, 
Thank you for reaching out. I posted a discussion and they helped me figured it out. So I am good to go. I believe my code were correct and there is some spacing/indent issues I have. 
I appreciate it a lot for replying! Happy Holidays!

Kong Cheong · Answer

Hi, I followed the steps but unable to get it to work. I completed 1/3 and 2/3 perfectly then 3/3 is returning error every tiime I submit. Please help, I have no idea what is wrong.

Peter Rzepka · Answer

def add(a, b):
  try:
    a = float(a)
    b = float(b)
  except ValueError:
    return None
  else: 
    return(float(a + b))

Petrius Balbinot · Answer

None of the codes posted above work, correct?

Rasheed Ajala · Answer

can I see your code?

Patrick Chumley · Answer

Your problem is having to do with your syntax. Your return needs two sets of parentheses like this:
def add(x, y):
    return(float(x + y))
That should fix the issue you are encountering!

Patric Daniel Pförtner · Answer

Hi Rasheed,
You are very close to the answer, here is how I did it: 
python
def add(num1, num2):
    a = float(num1)
    b = float(num2)
    return(a + b)

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Rasheed Ajala

Rasheed Ajala

how do i convert an argument in my function to float. This is python.

28 Answers

Ryan Ruscett

Ryan Ruscett

Rasheed Ajala

Rasheed Ajala

Ryan Ruscett

Ryan Ruscett

Rasheed Ajala

Rasheed Ajala

Ryan Ruscett

Ryan Ruscett

Gary Gibson

Gary Gibson

Levis Vazquez

Levis Vazquez

Zeljko Porobija

Zeljko Porobija

Megan Riley

Megan Riley

Paul Je

Paul Je

Donal Lane

Donal Lane

Felipe Marconatto Ochman

Felipe Marconatto Ochman

william Murray

william Murray

sebastian tramper

sebastian tramper

Vedran Linić

Vedran Linić

paul chon

paul chon

Patric Daniel Pförtner

Patric Daniel Pförtner

Thomas Souza

Thomas Souza

Patrick Chumley

Patrick Chumley

Rasheed Ajala

Rasheed Ajala

Rasheed Ajala

Rasheed Ajala

Petrius Balbinot

Petrius Balbinot

Daniel Dugan

Daniel Dugan

Aaron Mckenzie-Hunte

Aaron Mckenzie-Hunte

Peter Rzepka

Peter Rzepka

Kong Cheong

Kong Cheong

Kong Cheong

Kong Cheong

Kory Hoopes

Kory Hoopes

Zeljko Porobija

Zeljko Porobija

jasonhass

jasonhass

Ivan K

Ivan K

youssef moustahib

youssef moustahib

Cristobal Ortiz-Ortiz

Cristobal Ortiz-Ortiz

Paul Je

Paul Je

Jarrod Gillis

Jarrod Gillis

Bo Winters

Bo Winters

Aron Katz

Aron Katz