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Python Python Basics (2015) Number Game App Squared

Posted by Beth Singley
Beth Singley
3,491 Points

I don't understand why my squared function is not working

In my brain, the code below should work. I cannot find a good reason why it doesn't. What am I missing?

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

def squared (num):
  try:
    test = int(num)
    return (test ** 2)
  except TypeError:
    return (num * len(num))

2 Answers

Anish Walawalkar
Anish Walawalkar
8,534 Points
Anish Walawalkar
Anish Walawalkar
8,534 Points

Just change TypeError to ValueError. when python encounters a string it cannot convert to an int/double it throws a ValueError

Florin Veja
Florin Veja
6,912 Points
Florin Veja
Florin Veja
6,912 Points

Beth,

It looks like the squared("tim") is what is failing. The error you are getting is "ValueError: invalid literal for int() with base 10: 'tim'". I believe you might need to change the "except TypeError:" line to "except ValueError:"

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

def squared (num):
  try:
    test = int(num)
    return (test ** 2)
  except ValueError:
    return (num * len(num))

Let me know if that helps.

Cheers,

Florin