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Python Python Basics Functions and Looping Returning Values

return vs result

I am able to get the same outcome when using result = cost_per_person or using return cost_per_person. Can someone help me understand when to use each?

1 Answer

# Here you are creating a new variable and assign the cost_per_person to it.
# You would use this when you want you refer back to the result value, for example:
# result = 5 + 9, if you want to refer back to this value you can just use the result variable
# instead of doing the math "( 5 + 9 )" again.
result = cost_per_person 

# Here you are just returning the cost_per_person value
# Use this when you just want to return something back from a function.
# result and cost_per_person are both variables that store something, int/string/boolean..etc
# sometimes you don't need to create a variable to be able to return it.
# For example, if you look towards the end of the video, you don't even need
# to create cost_per_person variable, you can just return the value without creating a variable
# return math.ceil(total / number_of_people) would perform the calculations and return the value.
return cost_per_person

Thank you!