Python Mastery Course: Debugging lesson syntax errors

Python
1

Hi everyone,

I am a beginner going through the complete python mastery course and I am encountering a syntax error when I try to follow along with the debugging lesson (video 9 under functions).

I am currently using python 3.11.0 and VS Code version 1.73

the code I am copying from the lesson is:
image

and this is the error I have been getting:

Start
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “e:\Personal_Work\Coding\Python\app.py”, line 9, in
print(multiply(1, 2, 3))
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File “e:\Personal_Work\Coding\Python\app.py”, line 4, in multiply
total *= numbers
TypeError: can’t multiply sequence by non-int of type ‘tuple’

[Done] exited with code=1 in 0.089 seconds

I am a little confused because the same code appears to work in the lesson. Is there something I am missing because this is a new version of python?

I did get it to return the proper value but only by changing line 3 from “number in numbers” to “numbers in numbers” but I do not now if this will cause me problems in the future while going through other lessons.

any insight on this will be appreciated,

Thanks!

2

Are you certain the file was saved when you got the error? I just checked and it definitely works with the syntax you have written out. It should not be getting that error if you use the code you have shown.

4

yes I am certain. Even when I type the code into a new file I get the same Type error message. Could it be a setting I might have accidentally switched on?

I also am getting these problems when trying to execute the code.

image
image903×147 21.9 KB

maybe it’s something wrong with my pylint plugin?

5

I see the bug now, can’t believe I missed it before:

total *= numbers

should be:

total *= number

And no, pylint is not the issue here.

6

ah yes it works now! thank you so much, I can’t believe I didn’t catch that simple mistake sooner.

1 Like
7

Tuples are immutable so thus causing this error

def multipy(*numbers):
    total = 1
    for number in numbers:
        total *= number
    return total

print("Start")
print(multipy(1, 2, 3))