Python issues with return statement

Question

Hello I'm very new to python and was wondering if you could help me with something. I've been playing around with this code and can't seem to get it to work.

    import math

def main():
    if isPrime(2,7):
        print("Yes")
    else:
        print("No")

def isPrime(i,n):
    if ((n % i == 0) and (i <= math.sqrt(n))):
        return False
    if (i >= math.sqrt(n)):
        print ("is Prime: ",n)
        return True
    else:
        isPrime(i+1,n)
main()

Now the output for the isPrime method is as follows:

is Prime:  7
No

I'm sure the function should return true then it should print "Yes". Am I missing something?

Martijn Pieters · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-18 16:09:56Z

10

You are discarding the return value for the recursive call:

def isPrime(i,n):
    if ((n % i == 0) and (i <= math.sqrt(n))):
        return False
    if (i >= math.sqrt(n)):
        print ("is Prime: ",n)
        return True
    else:
        # No return here
        isPrime(i+1,n)

You want to propagate the value of the recursive call too, include a return statement:

else:
    return isPrime(i+1,n)

Now your code prints:

>>> isPrime(2,7)
is Prime:  7
True

answered Jun 18, 2013 at 16:09

Martijn Pieters

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2 Comments

Joran Beasley Over a year ago

why dont you just add the return to the answer? then I can delete my answer :P

Joran Beasley Over a year ago

hehe bah testing is for wimps :P

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