On 26/09/16 16:35, Richard Koeman wrote: > The function prints the first two print statements then nothing else > happens. > > def maximum(n1, n2): > print "the first number is" ,n1 > print "the second number is", n2
We know this works so far, so that's fine. > if n1 > n2: > return But this returns no value (so Python will provide a value of None) and immediately exits the function, no further processing will happen. But in your test you use 1,2 so this bit of code never gets executed anyway, so its not your problem(yet). > print n1 , "is the bigger number" Becauyse you used return this print will never, ever be executed. > elif n1 < n2: Given 1,2 this should be where your code goes. > return n2 And straight away you return 2, so nothing beyond here gets executed. > print n2 ie. This is never executed > elif n1 == n2: > print "they are equal" You print a message but don;t return anything so Python by default returns None. > else: > print "Sorry, No response found" Same here, None gets returned. So your function returns None for any set of values except where the second is largest, in which case it returns the second. > maximum(1,2) So here we should see the first 2 print outputs the returned value 2 but only if you execute this in a Python interactive shell. If you put it in a file and try running it you will not see the 2. Try adding a print before the call to maximum: print(maximum(1,2) That will then print the 2 as well. BTW As a matter of good style it's better not to mix print and returns inside a function. Either it returns a value and the calling function can print the result or it just prints stuff and never returns anything. This is because if you try using a function like yours in, say, a sorting program you will get a lot of printed information that's irrelevant to the sorting program. HTH -- Alan G Author of the Learn to Program web site http://www.alan-g.me.uk/ http://www.amazon.com/author/alan_gauld Follow my photo-blog on Flickr at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alangauldphotos _______________________________________________ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org To unsubscribe or change subscription options: https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
