Cannot define my variable in python program

Question

I am required to make a function that provides a Semester Summary that includes courses taken, credits taken, GPA points, and Semester GPA. I have this first function working

- gpacalc()

However, when I try making the second function

- coursePoints(credit,grade)

Which is supposed to return the "GPA points" of one specific class when you enter the credit of the class and the grade received. This is where I run into issues. It says "gp" isn't defined. I know this is a lot but I think it is probably a simple error. I am probably shadowing my variables, which I still can't quite figure out. If you can help, I appreciate it!

# coursePoints requirement
def coursePoints(credit, grade):
    gp = 0.00
    totalcredits = 0
    totalpoints = 0
    # I have lots of if statements here, I deleted them for simplicity.#
    gp = round(totalpoints,2)/round(totalcredits)

print("The GPA points of this class is:", round(gp))

coursePoints(3,"b")

Why not return gp from coursePoints and print the result of the function call? — Iain Shelvington
– Iain Shelvington, Commented Apr 4, 2020 at 0:49
The print() line at the end needs to be indented so it's part of the function. — Barmar
– Barmar, Commented Apr 4, 2020 at 0:53
BTW, the fact that you have a large block of identical code in both functions that converts letter grades to points suggests that you should create a separate function for that operation. — Barmar
– Barmar, Commented Apr 4, 2020 at 0:55

Breno · Accepted Answer · 2020-04-04 01:11:42Z

2

You have to add an indentation on print("The GPA points of this class is:", round(gp)) for it to be inside your definition of function coursePoints().

Without the indentation, it's as if you're trying to print a variable in your file that hasn't been given any value, nor declared.

Also, if you input "b" instead of "B" in coursePoints(), as per the last line, it will return a GPA of 0, since you've only specified capital letters. OR you add the option of analyzing bot letters in if with if grade in ["B","b"]:. OR an even simpler solution is to add grade = grade.upper() right below def coursePoints(credit, grade):, and mantain everything else the same (props to wjandrea).

The ending of the code should be:

[...]
    elif grade in ["D-","d-"]:
        totalpoints = totalpoints + (credit * .67)
        totalcredits = totalcredits + credit
    else:
        totalpoints = totalpoints + (credit * 0)
        totalcredits = totalcredits + credit
    gp = round(totalpoints,2)/round(totalcredits)
    # next line is indented now, thus, inside coursePoints()
    print("The GPA points of this class is:", round(gp))

coursePoints(3,"b") # change if condition for elif grade in ["B","b"]:

Edit: corrected and expanded as per wjandrea's comment.

edited Apr 4, 2020 at 1:11

answered Apr 4, 2020 at 0:57

Breno

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2 Comments

wjandrea Over a year ago

Correction: grade in ["B", "b"]. But it's easier to do grade.upper() == 'B' instead.

Gavin Over a year ago

Thank you so much. Such an easy fix... and good catch on the capital letters! In my other function I have the .upper() to make them capital letters. In this function I will have to do the == ["b", "d-"].

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