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Python

Posted by Gabriel Moreno
Gabriel Moreno
3,579 Points

Keyword must be a string

Why won't this pass? I get keyword must be a string. If i use str(num) I get a different error message.

TIA

def time_machine(unit, num):                                                                                                                                            

    if unit == 'years':                                                                                                                                                 
        key = {'days':(num*365)}                                                                                                                                        


    else:                                                                                                                                                               
        key = {unit:num}                                                                                                                                                

    future = datetime.timedelta(**key)                                                                                                                                  
    return (starter + future)
Gabriel Moreno
Gabriel Moreno
3,579 Points

I did this in my Python shell:

>>> unit = 'days'
>>> num = 5
>>> key = {unit: num}
>>> datetime.timedelta(**key)
datetime.timedelta(5)
>>>

1 Answer

Ryan S
Ryan S
27,276 Points
Ryan S
Ryan S
27,276 Points

Hi Gabriel,

The code challenges are very specific in their wording. As you have it now, the arguments in your function definition are in the reverse order.

"Write a function named time_machine that takes an integer and a string of "minutes", "hours", "days", or "years". "

Whatever you decide to name them, the first value passed in is an integer and the second is a string. So in your code, "num" is actually the string.

Also for future posts it would be helpful if you link to the challenge you are working on.

Good luck.