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Python Python Basics Functions and Looping Create a Function

Posted by Viet Nguyen
Viet Nguyen
564 Points

How to return the function ?

How do I return the function from the output?

squaring.py 
import math
def square(number):
    print(number)
    print("A **square* is mulitiplied by itself?")
return number * 3
square(num_square / function_total)
num_square = int(input("What is the value square?"))
function_total = float(input("What is the total?"))
the_sum = square(num_square, funtion_total)
Justin Cox
Justin Cox
12,123 Points
Justin Cox
Justin Cox
12,123 Points

Are you just trying to make a function the squares a number passed into it? If so, you could just use something like this:

def square(number):
  return number * number

or as a full example:

def square(number):
  return number * number

num = int(input('Enter a number: '))
print("{} squared is {}".format(num, square(num)))

You won't need to import math unless you use one of its functions, so I removed that. I also wasn't really sure what function_total is, or the division you have on line 6, so I didn't include any of that, but this code should hopefully get you closer to what you're trying to achieve. Good luck!

3 Answers

boi
boi
14,242 Points
boi
boi
14,242 Points

I don't understand what are you trying to get out of this code, it seems you are trying yo divide the input values and then multiply them with 3 and then return the value?.... anyways there are a few syntax problems with your code

1) Let's analyze the error messages you are getting, the first error message is in the fifth line of code.

import math
def square(number):
    print(number)
    print("A **square* is mulitiplied by itself?")
return number * 3 # HERE is the first error you are getting

in the REPL you get a message "SyntaxError: 'return' outside function" which makes sense since your return is indented outside the function, solve this by indenting the return into the function.

2) You have a spelling error on line number 9 (or the last line) you spelled "funtion" instead of "function". ALSO why does this line of code even exist? delete the last line of code or line number 9

3) Your function call is at the wrong line, it should be at the end of your code, try replacing line number 9 with line number 6 like this;

import math
def square(number):
    print(number)
    print("A **square* is mulitiplied by itself?")
    return number * 3
square(num_square / function_total)  # wrong line for this line of code, it should be at last of your code
num_square = int(input("What is the value square?"))
function_total = float(input("What is the total?"))
the_sum = square(num_square, funtion_total) # delete this line of code and replace it with line number 6

#fixed code here below

import math
def square(number):
    print(number)
    print("A **square* is mulitiplied by itself?")
    return number * 3

num_square = int(input("What is the value square?"))
function_total = float(input("What is the total?"))
square(num_square / function_total)

And finally, your main question of how to return the value, just use the print function on your function call like this;

print(square(num_square / function_total))
Viet Nguyen
Viet Nguyen
564 Points
Viet Nguyen
Viet Nguyen
564 Points

ok thanks a lot that was helpful.

Brock Goodrich
Brock Goodrich
991 Points
Brock Goodrich
Brock Goodrich
991 Points

I found on the Python website myriads of math functions and other python codes that could be used as a reference chart. The previous video did not go in depth. The answer to returning the squared function could also be

<def square(number):
solution = pow(number, 2)
 return solution>

Exclude the <> in the beginning and end because I do not fully understand how to fix that.