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Python Python Collections (2016, retired 2019) Tuples Packing

Posted by ds1
ds1
7,627 Points

Tuple Muddle Fuddle

Did anyone interpret the "type shouldn't matter" as meaning that the answer should account for non-number data types? Unfortunately, the code below (even though it works as expected in the IDLE) will not pass the challenge. I tried another version (that also works as expected in the IDLE) and it did not pass either. Turns out, it you remove the "float()" [and the "try... except" as it's no longer needed if you're not using float] then it works! Why is that?

def multiply(*args):
    product = args[0]
    for arg in args[1:]:
        try:
            arg = float(arg)
        except:
            continue
        else:
            product *= arg
    return product

2 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,744 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,744 Points

The float() function forces the type to change.

If the work checker passes in a list of integers, it may expect an integer to be returned. But the code above would return a float instead.

ds1
ds1
7,627 Points
ds1
ds1
7,627 Points

Thanks, Steven- I was using int() at first and later switched to float(). Maybe another data type was used besides numbers (a single string in a number sequence would work in multiplication) and like you say, the code is forcing a change type (and by passing anything that doesnt change).