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Python Python Collections (2016, retired 2019) Dictionaries Teacher Stats

Why is this wrong?

create a function named num_teachers that takes a single argument, which will be a dictionary of Treehouse teachers and their courses. The num_teachers function should return an integer for how many teachers are in the dict.

I know i can use the len() function but still

teachers.py
# The dictionary will look something like:
# {'Andrew Chalkley': ['jQuery Basics', 'Node.js Basics'],
#  'Kenneth Love': ['Python Basics', 'Python Collections']}
#
# Each key will be a Teacher and the value will be a list of courses.
#
# Your code goes below here.
def num_teachers(a):
        for key in a.keys():
                count += 1
        return count

3 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
230,274 Points

Before you can add something to a variable, the variable must be created. So before you start the loop, create "count" by assigning it with the value you want it to begin with.

Jordan Hoover
seal-mask
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree seal-36
Jordan Hoover
Python Web Development Techdegree Graduate 59,268 Points

You need to define count outside of the loop first. Also, should definitely use len().

def num_teachers(a):
    count = 0

    for key in a.keys():
        count += 1
    return count
Shreyas Papinwar
Shreyas Papinwar
2,371 Points

Hey you didn't create the loop -

def num_teachers(dictionary):
    count = 0

    for i in len(dictionary.keys()):
        count += 1
    return count
```python
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
230,274 Points

:x: This code is not a valid solution. Try it in the challenge and see!

And Namrata did create a loop, just not the count.

Oh, and thanks for formatting your code, but the language name only goes at the top.