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Python Python Basics (Retired) Putting the "Fun" Back in "Function" Functions

Posted by Eldar Burnashev
Eldar Burnashev
1,836 Points

Python Basic, Functions, challenge 2 of 2

Hello! I'm stuck. What's wrong with this code?

def add_list(list):
   return sum(list)

def summarize(list):
    total = sum(list)
    words = ("The sum of the {} is {}.".format(list,total)

3 Answers

Stone Preston
Stone Preston
42,016 Points
Stone Preston
Stone Preston
42,016 Points

you are very close. you have a few minor things wrong with your code.

you need to remain consistent with your indentation. (you used 3 spaces the first function and 4 the next).

you also dont need the parenthesis at the start of your words variable (you have an opening one at the start but its missing its matching closing parenthesis, so either remove the first one or add another to the end).

your string is incorrect. it needs to be "The sum of {} is {}." not "The sum of the {} is {}.". so remove the word the.

you also need to return your words variable at the end.

its also probably not a good idea to use list as a paramater name since list is a function name. I would change it to something else to avoid any sort of confusion

see below 

def add_list(some_list):
  return sum(some_list)

def summarize(some_list):
  total = sum(some_list)
  words = "The sum of {} is {}.".format(some_list,total)
  return words

technically I think they want you to use the add_list function you created first instead of sum(), so this would also work:

def add_list(some_list):
  return sum(some_list)

def summarize(some_list):
  total = add_list(some_list)
  words = "The sum of {} is {}.".format(some_list,total)
  return words
Eldar Burnashev
Eldar Burnashev
1,836 Points

Thank you! It's actually helps! Definitely I should be more attentive.

tihomirvelev
tihomirvelev
14,109 Points
tihomirvelev
tihomirvelev
14,109 Points

Hello,

It the last line of code I don't see the number between the curly brackets. You have to specify the order in which the format method put the variables.

Try it like that: words = ("The sum of the {0} is {1}.".format(list,total)

Hope that helps. Good luck!

Stone Preston
Stone Preston
42,016 Points
Stone Preston
Stone Preston
42,016 Points

adding the order is not necessary, it will work either way

Eldar Burnashev
Eldar Burnashev
1,836 Points

Thank you, but local workspace thinks that promblem is somewhere else(

Kenneth Love
Kenneth Love
Treehouse Guest Teacher
Kenneth Love
Kenneth Love
Treehouse Guest Teacher

Adding the index position is only required in Python 2.6 and below.

tihomirvelev
tihomirvelev
14,109 Points
tihomirvelev
tihomirvelev
14,109 Points

Try to change the "list" parameter in the functions with something else. For example "arg".

list is reserved function in python and I think this is the real problem. It is making a problem in my machine anyway. :)

Eldar Burnashev
Eldar Burnashev
1,836 Points

Problem already solved, thank you.)

tihomirvelev
tihomirvelev
14,109 Points

Great. That was a bad answer anyway. It actually worked with "list" parameter after further testing. :)

Stone Preston
Stone Preston
42,016 Points
Stone Preston
Stone Preston
42,016 Points

its still probably a good idea not to use list as a name. it does work, but I would use a different name to avoid confusion. I edited my answer to include this as its a valid point.