Question about Python functions

Question

In the abbreviated code below, how do the upper pairs relate to the function below them?  Thank you.

 

height_m3 = 2.5
name3 = "Mary"
weight_kg3 = 160

def bmi_calculator(name, height_m, weight_kg):
bmi = weight_kg / (height_m ** 2)
print("bmi: ")

Answer 1

The variables you defined:

height_m3 = 2.5

name3 = "Mary"

weight_kg3 = 160

...in turn are arguments to the function you defined:

def bmi_calculator(name, height_m, weight_kg):

bmi = weight_kg / (height_m ** 2)

print("bmi: ")

It's better practice to return the data from the function and THEN print it, instead of printing from within the function itself:

def bmi_calculator(name, height_m, weight_kg):

bmi = weight_kg / (height_m ** 2)

return bmi

height_m3 = 2.5

name3 = "Mary"

weight_kg3 = 160

mary_bmi = bmi_calculator(height_m3, name3, weight_kg3)

print(mary_bmi)

This is called 'code encapsulation', and is one of the things that makes object oriented programming (the norm nowadays) so powerful.