[Tutor] Doing the Right Thing when converting strings to numbers

[Michael Williams]

Hi,

I'd like to convert a string to either a float or an integer
``intelligently", i.e.:

>>> mystring = '5'
>>> mynumber = clever_coerce(mystring)
>>> print mynumber, type(mynumber)
5 <type 'int'>
>>> mystring = '4.9'
>>> mynumber = clever_coerce(mystring)
>>> print mynumber, type(mynumber)
4.9 <type 'float'>

The string should ideally also be coerced into a float in the event of
it being, e.g. '5.0'. Does such a function exist in the standard library
or, if not, perhaps there should be. Could someone suggest how I might 
go about writing one myself.

-- 
Michael