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Python Python Basics (2015) Number Game App Squared

Posted by Marcus Yang
Marcus Yang
7,476 Points

Python basic

This challenge is similar to an earlier one. Remember, though, I want you to practice! You'll probably want to use try and except on this one. You might have to not use the else block, though. Write a function named squared that takes a single argument. If the argument can be converted into an integer, convert it and return the square of the number (num ** 2 or num * num). If the argument cannot be turned into an integer (maybe it's a string of non-numbers?), return the argument multiplied by its length. Look in the file for examples.

squared.py 
# EXAMPLES
# squared(5) would return 25
# squared("2") would return 4
# squared("tim") would return "timtimtim"
def squared(num):
    try:
        if num == int(num):
            return num * num
    except:
        return num * len(num)
print(squared("tim"))

1 Answer

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,269 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,269 Points

Your program converts the argument to an integer, but only to compare it with the unconverted version. The comparison isn't actually needed, plus the converted value isn't being saved so it can be squared.

Also, you only need to define the function. You don't need to call it yourself, and you don't need to "print" anything.