Why the replace function is not accepted by this question?

Question

I was working on the challenge for datetime.timedelta and the question didn't like my following solution for the years:
python
date == 'years':
        return starter.replace(starter.year + num)

I know I could do this 
python
date == 'years':
        return starter + datetime.timedelta(days = num * 365)

I get the same result from both line of code for a simple tests. Could you please let me know why the replace function was not accepted? Thank you!

Steven Parker · Accepted Answer

Aha, I see now.  The trick is in the expedience suggested by the comments: "Consider a year to be 365 days."
Your approach is actually better, because when there is an intervening leap year, the results in the suggested method will be slightly off.  But the challenge is expecting those values.

ahsansalem · Answer

Thank you so much Steven!

ahsansalem · Answer

Hello Steven, 
Please find the function below:
import datetime
starter = datetime.datetime(2015, 10, 21, 16, 29)
def time_machine(num, date):
    if date == 'minutes':
        return starter + datetime.timedelta(minutes = num)
    elif date == 'hours':
        return starter + datetime.timedelta(hours = num)
    elif date == 'days':
        return starter + datetime.timedelta(days = num)
    elif date == 'years':
        return starter.replace(starter.year + num)
Examples from running the function:
time_machine(5, "minutes")
datetime.datetime(2015, 10, 21, 16, 34)
time_machine(5, "years")
datetime.datetime(2020, 10, 21, 16, 29)

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ahsansalem

ahsansalem

Why the replace function is not accepted by this question?

Steven Parker

Steven Parker

3 Answers

Steven Parker

Steven Parker

ahsansalem

ahsansalem

Steven Parker

Steven Parker

ahsansalem

ahsansalem