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Evaluate the code below, and suggest ways to improve it.

def find_sum(num1, num_2):
'''
Finds and returns sum of two numbers
'''
return num1 + num_2

(1 point)
Responses

The name of this method should be something else.
The name of this method should be something else.

Instead of returning the sum, the program should just print it onscreen.
Instead of returning the sum, the program should just print it onscreen.

There should be an additional variable defined at the beginning to store the sum, and this value is returned at the end.
There should be an additional variable defined at the beginning to store the sum, and this value is returned at the end.

The method has a docstring that is not descriptive enough. The docstring should mention the variables and their descriptions to improve the code.

1 answer

The provided function find_sum is simple and functional, but there are several areas to improve its readability, usability, and adherence to best practices. Here are some suggestions:

  1. Parameter Naming:

    • num_2 is not consistent with Python naming conventions for parameters. It would be better to use num2 (without the underscore) for consistency and readability.

  2. Function Name:

    • The name find_sum is appropriate, but it could be more descriptive, such as calculate_sum or sum_two_numbers, to specify that it performs a summation operation.

  3. Docstring Enhancement:

    • The docstring should be expanded to include descriptions of the parameters and return type. This helps other developers understand how to use the function.
    • For example: 
      '''
Calculates the sum of two numbers.

Parameters:
num1 (int or float): The first number.
num2 (int or float): The second number.

Returns:
int or float: The sum of num1 and num2.
'''

  4. Type Hinting:

    • Adding type hints to the function parameters and return value can enhance code readability and help with static type checking. For example: 
      def find_sum(num1: float, num2: float) -> float:

  5. Error Handling:

    • Consider adding input validation to handle cases where the inputs might not be numbers.

Here’s a revised version of the code incorporating these suggestions:

def calculate_sum(num1: float, num2: float) -> float:
    '''
    Calculates the sum of two numbers.

    Parameters:
    num1 (int or float): The first number.
    num2 (int or float): The second number.

    Returns:
    int or float: The sum of num1 and num2.
    '''
    # Validate inputs to ensure they are numbers
    if not isinstance(num1, (int, float)) or not isinstance(num2, (int, float)):
        raise ValueError("Both arguments must be numbers.")
    
    return num1 + num2

Summary of Improvements:

  • Updated parameter naming for consistency.
  • Provided a more descriptive function name and docstring.
  • Added type hints for better clarity.
  • Included input validation to enhance robustness.