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Python Python Basics Functions and Looping Raising Exceptions

Is this considered wrong or messy code?

The video had the if statement within the function. Just outta curiosity I tried to use the if statement outside of the function and below the input and it worked. Is this considered wrong or improper formatting?

import math

def split_check(total, number_of_people): 
    return math.ceil(total / number_of_people)

try:
    total = float(input("What is the total?  "))
    number_of_people = int(input("How man people?   "))
    if number_of_people <=1:
        raise ValueError("More than 1 person is required to split a check")
    amount_due = split_check(total, number_of_people)
except ValueError as err:
    print("Oh no! That's not a valid value. Try again")
    print("{}".format(err))
else:
    print("Each person owes ${}".format(amount_due))

1 Answer

Jeff Muday
MOD
Jeff Muday
Treehouse Moderator 28,720 Points

Your code is easy to read with nicely named variables, good job! You also used a well named function name, split_check() It is very clear what you are intending to do. This will serve you well on your journey to become a software developer.

Your code is clean, but the one "gotcha" is nesting a raise inside a try except block. While it is syntactically valid, it can have unpredictable results. In your case, you get it right!

Personally, if I am presented with this kind of task where a user will give unpredictable input I like to embed the input into an event loop. I also like to encapsulate the input to a particular type like the get_number() function I show below.

Good luck with Python! There are so many programs to write and not enough hours in the day!!

import math

def split_check(total, number_of_people): 
    return math.ceil(total / number_of_people)

def get_number(prompt):
    import sys
    while True:
        # event loop continues to ask for a number until it succeeds or
        # user replies with a "quit" or a "q"
        num = input(prompt)
        if num.upper().startswith('Q'):
            print("exiting program")
            sys.exit(0)
        try:
            value = float(num)
            return value
        except:
            print("Oh no! That's not a valid value. Try again")

while True:
    # main event loop
    total = get_number("What is the total of the check?  (or quit) ")
    number_of_people = int(get_number("Number of ways to split? (or quit)"))
    if number_of_people <=1:
        print("More than 1 person is required to split a check")
    else:
        amount_due = split_check(total, number_of_people)
        print("Each person owes ${}".format(amount_due))

Test it out.

What is the total of the check?  (or quit) Yikes shouldn't have ordered dessert!
Oh no! That's not a valid value. Try again
What is the total of the check?  (or quit) 88.52
Number of ways to split? (or quit)3
Each person owes $30
What is the total of the check?  (or quit) 102.50
Number of ways to split? (or quit)-1
More than 1 person is required to split a check
What is the total of the check?  (or quit) 102.50
Number of ways to split? (or quit)5
Each person owes $21
What is the total of the check?  (or quit) quit
exiting program