Float error not callable

Question

I have a program that makes various calculations based on text provided in a text file. I get an error after the second entry is printed (the first works fine.)

The entry in the file is parsed to be a list:

['Castro, Starlin', 'CHC', '161', '666', '59', '163', '34', '2', '10']

I then make a call to the singles function, which takes four arguments.

singles = singles(float(line[5]),float(line[6]),float(line[7]),float(line[8]))
print "Singles: %s" % singles

The function is as follows:

def singles(a,b,c,d):
    # a = hits b = doubles c = triples d = homeruns
    # hits - (doubles + triples + homeruns)
    tmp1 = b + c + d
    return a - float(tmp1)

This works fine for the first entry:

['Machado, Manny', 'BAL', '156', '667', '88', '189', '51', '3', '14']

and the calculation successfully completes. However, the second is unable to complete:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "\\bhmfp\ian.carroll$\Intro to Computer Programming\Project 3\Project 3\main.py", line 107, in <module>
    singles = singles(float(line[5]),float(line[6]),float(line[7]),float(line[8]))
TypeError: 'float' object is not callable

Do you define a variable named float or singles somewhere? — Vincent Savard
– Vincent Savard, Commented May 22, 2014 at 14:24
@VincentSavard I define singles as shown in the second code block. — StackExchange User
– StackExchange User, Commented May 22, 2014 at 14:25
move all float inside the definition of "singles" and avoid using the same name for a variable and for a function. Also, try to pass "line" instead of separate elements. This might help — Yulia V
– Yulia V, Commented May 22, 2014 at 14:26

jonrsharpe · Accepted Answer · 2014-05-22 14:25:58Z

7

When you call

singles = singles(float(line[5]),float(line[6]),float(line[7]),float(line[8]))

You replace the function singles with the float returned by that function when it is called. Any subsequent calls to singles will try to call that number, not the function, and thus fail. Use a different name for the return value:

new_single = singles(*map(float, line[5:9]))

(Note use of map, slicing and unpacking to simplify the call.)

answered May 22, 2014 at 14:25

jonrsharpe

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1 Comment

Burhan Khalid Over a year ago

If the singles value is not required further, you can just print('Singles: {}'.format(singles(*map(float, line[5:9]))))

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