Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

Python Functions, Packing, and Unpacking Packing and Unpacking Packing, a Practical Example

def calculate_total(*args): total=sum(args) print(total) calculate_total(10,20,30,40)

def calculate_total(*args): total=sum(args) print(total) calculate_total(10,20,30,40) How can I make this code line without using the function of sum , if possible with for

2 Answers

Hi Erdal.

Since you're using *args, you can pass a variable number of arguments to the function. You can access them as if they were a list within the function itself. Here's an example to answer your question:

def calculate_total(*args):
     sum= 0
     for arg in args:
          sum += arg
     return sum

print(calculate_total(1, 2, 3, 4, 5))

#Should print 15
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,269 Points

As Michael pointed out, one way to do this is with a "for" loop. Here's another one (but "reduce" might not have been introduced yet in the course):

from functools import reduce

def calculate_total(*args):
    return reduce(lambda x, y: x+y, args)