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Python

Posted by kjksj mnzdmndzf
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
kjksj mnzdmndzf
Python Web Development Techdegree Student 142 Points

Syntax error on a challenge question

Make a function how_many that, given a list of a number

and a thing name, returns a grmmatically correct sentence

describing the number of things.

>>>> how_many([5, "trinket"])

There are 5 trinket

>>>> how_many([1, "king"])

There is 1 king

def how_many(the_list):

if the_list[0] == 1:

    return ("There is {} {}".format(str(the_list[0]), the_list[1]))

else:

    return ("There are {} {}".format(str(the_list[0]), the_list[1]))

print how_many([5, "trinket"])

print how_many([1, "king"])

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
243,656 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
243,656 Points

To make posted code readable, use the instructions for code formatting in the Markdown Cheatsheet pop-up below the "Add an Answer" area. :arrow_heading_down:

1 Answer

Jon Mirow
Jon Mirow
9,864 Points

Hi there,

Can't see any problems with the function code, unless you've got an indentation issue... but then that would raise an IndentationError not a SyntaxError. Could you paste in the error message?

One possible solution: are you using python 2 or 3? because 3 would raise a SyntaxError on those print statements?

kjksj mnzdmndzf
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
kjksj mnzdmndzf
Python Web Development Techdegree Student 142 Points

Gotcha I was using python 3. So silly mistake. Thanks Jon

Jon Mirow
Jon Mirow
9,864 Points

No worries, we all do it :) I keep on confusing python 3 with dict.iteritems() lol!