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 Python Basics (2015) Number Game App Squared

Nick Woody
Nick Woody
2,302 Points
Posted by Nick Woody
Nick Woody
2,302 Points

Why doesn't this work?

Having trouble with this code challenge:

EXAMPLES

squared(5) would return 25

squared("2") would return 4

squared("tim") would return "timtimtim"

def squared(arg): try: int(arg) return arg * arg except ValueError: return arg * len(arg)

squared.py 
# EXAMPLES
# squared(5) would return 25
# squared("2") would return 4
# squared("tim") would return "timtimtim"
def squared(arg):
    try:
        int(arg)
        return arg * arg
    except ValueError:
        return arg * len(arg)

1 Answer

Alexander Davison
Alexander Davison
65,469 Points

You are doing great! :+1:

:warning: But be careful: When you call int(arg), it doesn't modify arg's value, it returns a new value.

This means you should remove int(arg), and replace this:

return arg * arg

as this.

return int(arg) * int(arg)

Or you could simply use the exponent operator for less typing:

return int(arg) ** 2

I hope this helps! :grin:

Happy coding! :zap: ~Alex

Alexander Davison
Alexander Davison
65,469 Points

No problem :grin: