Python Version of My Java Homework

[matt_arnold]

le_bebna_kamni knows Java really well, which has come in handy for tutoring, I can tell you.

However, she also has a copy of "Beginning Python From Novice To Professional" by Magnus Lie Hetland lying around. Since Python is the language I want to make actual real projects in, I was curious. So I decided to do my homework again, in Python. This time it was six lines long.

However, I decided to take it further. The new version properly uses singular and plural English. In other words, it will say "1 hour" instead of "1 hours."


totalSeconds = input("How many seconds?")
hours = totalSeconds / 3600
remainingSeconds = totalSeconds % 3600
minutes = remainingSeconds / 60
seconds = remainingSeconds % 60

if hours == 1:
pluralHour = ""
else:
pluralHour = "s"

if minutes == 1:
pluralMinute = ""
else:
pluralMinute = "s"

if seconds == 1:
pluralSecond = ""
else:
pluralSecond = "s"

print str(hours) + " hour" + str(pluralHour) + ", " + str(minutes) + " minute" + str(pluralMinute) + ", and " + str(seconds) + " second" + str(pluralSecond) + "."

So while I was doing this, she also did the exercise in Python, except she didn't want to type the singlular/plural decision into her version three times like I did. She felt it was more elegant to make one set of pluralization instructions and have Python repeat it for hours, minutes, and seconds. She cursed at the computer for a half hour and came up with the version she will post in the comments.

I do not curse at the computer. I expect coding to be painful, and have been pleasantly surprised to be proven wrong.

pain = False

if not pain:
gain = False