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

Timothy Comeau
Timothy Comeau
3,710 Points
Posted by Timothy Comeau
Timothy Comeau
3,710 Points

Stuck on Python function Challenge Q 1

I'm stuck on what the right approach is for this question. I know this works to get the required answer, but isn't structured according to expectation.

How do I split the list into individual segments and add them together?

example_list=[1,2,3]
aw = example_list[0]
bw = example_list[1]
cw = example_list[2]

def add_list():
  ans=int(aw+bw+cw)
  print(ans)

add_list()

2 Answers

Jason Anello
Jason Anello
Courses Plus Student 94,610 Points

Hi Timothy,

Inside your function you need a variable that is going to store the sum and then each time through the for loop you're going to add a number from the list to your sum variable. Then you want to return that sum.

def add_list(lst):
    sum = 0
    for num in lst:
        sum = sum + num

    return sum
Adam N
Adam N
70,280 Points
Adam N
Adam N
70,280 Points

Did you try using a for loop like the challenge recommends?

Timothy Comeau
Timothy Comeau
3,710 Points
Timothy Comeau
Timothy Comeau
3,710 Points

Yes I tried something like

def add_list(example_list):
   for item in int(example_list):
   item + item

add_list()

but the most I could get was an output of 2, 4, 6, i.e. item + item worked individually

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

Timothy Comeau That's a great start but there are a couple of problems in it.

  1. You're trying to convert a list to an integer on line 2. Each item in the list is already an int, and lists don't turn into ints anyway (how would you do that?) so that's gonna fail and throw an exception.
  2. On line 3, you're adding the current item in the list to itself. So if item #1 is 2, line 3 just calculates 4.
  3. And, lastly, on line 5 you call the function. This is good for when you're testing, but isn't needed to pass my code challenges.

You're making great progress! Keep it up!