Summary - Functions

Combine default, *args and docstring to write a math helper.

Summary - Functions

In this group we covered def, return, docstring, default parameters and *args/**kwargs.

def defines a function.
return sends a value; otherwise None.
Docstring on the first line with triple quotes.
Default parameters go on the right.
*args collects tuple, **kwargs collects dict.

Now two tasks combine these concepts.

Exercise Sum of squares function

Define a function called sum_squares that takes *nums and returns sum(n * n for n in nums). Assign sum_squares(1, 2, 3) to result. Then print print(result).

Show example solution

def sum_squares(*nums):
    return sum(n * n for n in nums)
result = sum_squares(1, 2, 3)
print(result)

Exercise Default and docstring together

Define a function called greet with name and greeting (default "Hello") parameters. Put a docstring """Print a greeting message.""" on the first line of the body. Make it print(greeting, name). Call it with greet("Ayse").

Show example solution

def greet(name, greeting="Hello"):
    """Print a greeting message."""
    print(greeting, name)
greet("Ayse")

Test yourself

Which statement is correct?
- Without return the function returns True
- *args collects as a tuple
- Default parameters go on the left
- Docstring goes after return
Show answer

*args collects as a tuple — *args collects variable arguments as a tuple.

Complete the function call

result = sum_squares(____)

Show answer

result = sum_squares(1, 2, 3)

Next lesson: Positional parameters

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