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Python

Posted by Julie Luisi
Julie Luisi
1,782 Points

Using isinstance to keep only strings and numbers

My task is to keep only the strings and numbers from a list using isinstance and print a string of the strings and the sum of the numbers. Knowing that True has a value of 1, I need to exclude it from the sum. I ran my code with tuples, a dictionary, True and False included in a list with strings and numbers and it worked as I expected, but I bet 'Bummer: Didn't get the expected outcome.' What am I missing?

instances.py 
def combiner(mlist):
    words = ''
    nmbrs = 0
    for entry in mlist.__iter__():
        if isinstance(entry, str):
            words += entry
        elif entry is True:
            nmbrs = nmbrs
        elif isinstance(entry, (int, float)):
            nmbrs += entry
    print(words + str(nmbrs))


## ran using following list ##
#a = {'Earth': 'home}
#x = 1
#y = 2
#my_list = ['apple', True, 5.2, 'dog', 8, a, False, (x, y), (3, 5)]

#combiner(my_list)
## returns:
## appledog13.2
## as expected

3 Answers

jorgelpezguzmn
jorgelpezguzmn
6,830 Points
jorgelpezguzmn
jorgelpezguzmn
6,830 Points

Use return instead of print at the end of the function. Otherwise you are printing the value.

def combiner(mlist):
    words = ''
    nmbrs = 0
    for entry in mlist:
        if isinstance(entry, str):
            words += entry
        elif entry is True:
            pass
        elif isinstance(entry, (int, float)):
            nmbrs += entry
    return words + str(nmbrs)
Julie Luisi
Julie Luisi
1,782 Points

Thank you for your post. I will include 'pass' in my code if entry is True. As for using return instead of print; I don't get an output with return while print gives me a string not a value because 'words' is a string and 'str(nmbrs)' makes 'nmbrs' a string as well. Still not sure why I am not succeeding at this challenge.

jorgelpezguzmn
jorgelpezguzmn
6,830 Points
jorgelpezguzmn
jorgelpezguzmn
6,830 Points

If you want to print in the console the value of words and numbers, you should use print. But the challenge is asking you to return a value, not to print it. That is the diference. If you use print, every time you call the function, you will print the result on screen, but you won't be able to asign to a variable the value the function has calculated.

If you use print, and do something like this:

new_variable = combiner(["apple", 5.2, "dog", 8])

new_variable will be empty. The function won't return anything, it will just print the results on screen.

Julie Luisi
Julie Luisi
1,782 Points

Thank you for pointing that out. I missed that I needed to RETURN the value not print it. I appreciate your persistence in helping me. I completed the task. :)