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Python Python Basics Functions and Looping Create a Function

Posted by Katrine AMS Guirguis
Katrine AMS Guirguis
2,587 Points

Python challenge: Create a function...

I tried my best for the ‘square’ part... but where does ‘number’ come in?

squaring.py 
def square(squared)
return (square * square)
print(square * 5)

5 Answers

Mel Rumsey
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree seal-36
Mel Rumsey
Treehouse Moderator

Hi Katrine Guirguis !

The "number" is the parameter that goes into the parenthesis of the function. For example if you want to do a function that adds a number to itself you would write:

def add(number):
    return number + number

so then when you want to call the function, you have to pass in a number as an argument

add(6)

Calling the function with the number argument is basically substituting the "number" parameter with 6 like so:

def add(6)
    return 6 + 6

Hopefully that helps!

Katrine AMS Guirguis
Katrine AMS Guirguis
2,587 Points
Katrine AMS Guirguis
Katrine AMS Guirguis
2,587 Points

Thank you!

Katrine AMS Guirguis
Katrine AMS Guirguis
2,587 Points
Katrine AMS Guirguis
Katrine AMS Guirguis
2,587 Points

But it still says that I have a syntax error....

Katrine AMS Guirguis
Katrine AMS Guirguis
2,587 Points
Katrine AMS Guirguis
Katrine AMS Guirguis
2,587 Points

How do you put number & square together?

Katrine AMS Guirguis
Katrine AMS Guirguis
2,587 Points
Katrine AMS Guirguis
Katrine AMS Guirguis
2,587 Points

Would you do: def square(number): return square * number Multiply 3 return 3 * 3 = 9 print(9)

boi
boi
14,241 Points
boi
boi
14,241 Points

Your idea of the word square is totally off-track for this context. The word square, in this context, is referring to the function name. Which is def square(number). Your idea of square (from what I observed) is that square will literally square the number, which is false. Look at this example;

def NOT_SQUARE(parameter):
    return parameter * parameter


>>> NOT_SQUARE(5)
25

The real magic is the Asterisk * symbol NOT the word square. The basic math rule is applied here where the Asterisk is multiplying the number (in this case parameter) by itself. Any number multiplied with itself gives you the square of that number.

If you're still confused, let me know.