> If you have a string "6", and you do int("6"), you get the number 6. > But if you have a string "2*3" and you do int("2*3") you get a name error.
the reason you get this error is because "2*3" is not a string representation of an integer whereas "6" is. in other words 2*3 is not a number. > How do you take an expression in a string, and evaluate the expression to get > a number? you just said the answer yourself... *evaluate the expression*. to do just that, use the eval() built-in function. eval("2*3") takes that string, turns it into Python executable code and returns the expression that results from the evaluation of that code. hope this helps! -- wesley - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "Core Python Programming", Prentice Hall, (c)2007,2001 "Python Fundamentals", Prentice Hall, (c)2009 http://corepython.com wesley.j.chun :: wescpy-at-gmail.com python training and technical consulting cyberweb.consulting : silicon valley, ca http://cyberwebconsulting.com _______________________________________________ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor