Problems with Parameters with a Recursive Function

Question

This is the code

def summationTwo(lower, upper, margin):
    """Returns the sum of the numbers from lower through upper, 
    and outputs a trace of the arguments and returns values on
    each call"""
    blanks = " " * margin
    print(blanks, lower, upper)
    if lower > upper:
        print(blanks, 0)
        return 0
    else:
        result = lower + summation(lower + 1, upper, margin + 4)
        print(blanks, result)
        return result
summationTwo (1, 4)

When I plug in two arguments for the summationTwo function call, I get a traceback that says, "TypeError: summation() takes 2 positional arguments but 3 were given."

However, when I plug in but two arguments, I get this traceback: "TypeError: summationTwo() missing 1 required positional argument: 'margin'"

What's going on?

summation isn't the same function as summationTwo. When you call with only two arguments then you haven't provided enough arguments. That's an error and things stop right there. When you supply three arguments then it gets through that and actually calls the function. When it gets to the line calling summation with too many arguments then that's the error. I don't know this summation function and I don't see it defined here so I don't really know what arguments it expects. But the error message seems to imply that it only takes two. — Delta_G
– Delta_G, Commented Sep 22, 2020 at 2:15

Delta_G · Accepted Answer · 2020-09-22 02:32:38Z

1

summation isn't the same function as summationTwo. When you call with only two arguments then you haven't provided enough arguments. That's an error and things stop right there. When you supply three arguments then it gets through that and actually calls the function. When it gets to the line calling summation with too many arguments then that's the error. I don't know this summation function and I don't see it defined here so I don't really know what arguments it expects. But the error message seems to imply that it only takes two

answered Sep 22, 2020 at 2:32

Delta_G

3,2532 gold badges12 silver badges16 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Problems with Parameters with a Recursive Function

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related