[Tutor] What am I missing??

ak@silmarill.org ak@silmarill.org
Mon, 11 Jun 2001 18:08:13 -0400


On Mon, Jun 11, 2001 at 02:45:55PM -0700, DavidCraig@PIA.CA.GOV wrote:
> I am working through the python tutorial on "How to think like a Computer
> Scientist in Python".
> 
> I know its simple but I can't find why this does not work.  This is the
> distance() I have written.  Below is the error message I get.
> 
> # distance function
> 
> def distance(x1, y1, x2, y2):
>     dx = x2 - x1
>     dy = y2 - y1
>     dsquared = dx**2 + dy**2
>     result = sqrt(dsquared)
>     return result

Where did you type this in? You have two choices that would both work:
first, you can type it in a file, e.g. distfile.py, then start the
interpreter, and do this:

>>> from distfile import distance
>>> import math
>>> distance(1,2,4,6)

OR

you can type the function in the interpreter, like this:

>>> def distance(x1,y1,x2,y2):
>>>  dx = x2 - x1
[...]

and then use it this time without the need to import distance.


> 
> 
> 
> Python 2.1 (#15, Apr 16 2001, 18:25:49) [MSC 32 bit (Intel)] on win32
> Type "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
> IDLE 0.8 -- press F1 for help
> >>> import math
> >>> distance(1, 2, 4, 6)
> Traceback (most recent call last):
>   File "<pyshell#1>", line 1, in ?
>     distance(1, 2, 4, 6)
> NameError: name 'distance' is not defined
> 
> TIA for any assistance : ))
> 
> Dave


> 
> 
> 
> 
> D. H. Craig, CSM
> 
> 
> 
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-- 
The point of philosophy is to start with something so simple as not
to seem worth stating, and to end with something so paradoxical
that no one will believe it.