2.1.6.3 How to talk to a computer

The input() function - prohibited operations

Look at the code in the editor. Run it, enter any number, and press Enter.

What happens?

Python should have given you the following output:

Traceback (most recent call last): File ".main.py", line 4, in <module> something = anything ** 2.0 TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for ** or pow(): 'str' and 'float'

The last line of the sentence explains everything - you tried to apply the ** operator to 'str' (string) accompanied with 'float'.

This is prohibited.

This should be obvious - can you predict the value of "to be or not to be" raised to the power of 2?

We can't. Python can't either.

Have we fallen into a deadlock? Is there a solution to this issue? Of course there is.

•  Sandbox

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# Testing TypeError message

anything = input("Enter a number: ")

something = anything ** 2.0

print(anything, "to the power of 2 is", something)

• Console