Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

Python Dates and Times in Python (2014) Let's Build a Timed Quiz App Simple Time Machine

Jack Cummins
Jack Cummins
17,417 Points
Posted by Jack Cummins
Jack Cummins
17,417 Points

Trouble with Delorean Function

The task is: Write a function named delorean that takes an integer. Return a datetime that is that many hours ahead from starter.

Thank You For Your Help In Advance!!!!!!!!!!
Jack

time_machine.py 
import datetime


def delorean():
    starter = datetime.datetime(2015, 10, 21, 16, 29)
    return datetime.datetime.now() - starter

1 Answer

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,732 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,732 Points

When the instructions say to write a function "that takes an integer", they mean it should take an argument that is an integer type. But the function defined above doesn't take any argument.

You'll need to use that argument to calculate a time later than "starter". You won't need the current (now) time.

Jack Cummins
Jack Cummins
17,417 Points
Jack Cummins
Jack Cummins
17,417 Points

I don't really get what you mean by that.

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,732 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,732 Points

When you define a function, you determine what argument(s) it will take by providing parameter names to stand for them inside the parentheses, for example:

# this function takes no argument(s)
def delorean():

# but this one takes one argument which we will call "hours"
def delorean(hours):

You can name it anything you like, but you'll need to use it to calculate the time to return.

Jack Cummins
Jack Cummins
17,417 Points
Jack Cummins
Jack Cummins
17,417 Points

Oh, I get it now! Thank you so much, and happy coding! :smile: