Strings, ints, and operators in Python

Question

How can I use an arithmetic operator (input by the user as a string) in an operation? I can print the operation itself, but I want to print the solution!

Here's my clumsy attempt:

# Initialise variables

x = 2
y = 3

# Prompt the user for an arithmetic operator

operator = input("Please enter  *,  /,  +,  or  - : ")

# Calculate the operation

result = (str(x) + operator + str(y))

# Display the result

print(result)

Martijn Pieters · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-20 10:45:49Z

4

Use the operator module, which has functions that perform the same operations as your arithmetic operations.

import operator
ops = {'*': operator.mul, '/': operator.div, '+': operator.add, '-': operator.sub}

op = input("Please enter  *,  /,  +,  or  - : ")
result = ops[op](x, y)

answered Mar 20, 2013 at 10:45

Martijn Pieters

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2 Comments

John Reynolds Over a year ago

Thanks Martijn! I had to change 'operator.div' to 'operator.truediv', and then it worked perfectly. I'd upvote your answer, but I don't have enough 'reputation'!

Martijn Pieters Over a year ago

@felixinutero: your acceptance of my answer is reward enough. :-) Glad to have been of help!

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