Question 60 of 498
PCEP Practice Question: Data Types, Variables, Basic I/O and Operators
You are maintaining a legacy Python 2.7 script that calculates shipping costs. The script reads weight from user input, then calculates cost as weight * 1.5. Recently, the company upgraded to Python 3.9, and now the script raises a TypeError: can't multiply sequence by non-int of type 'float'. The input line is: weight = input('Enter weight: '). You need to fix the script minimally. Which action should you take?
⚠ Common exam trap
Python Institute often tests the difference between Python 2 and Python 3 `input()` behavior, and the trap here is that candidates might choose `int()` (Option C) thinking weights are always whole numbers, or choose `from __future__` (Option A) without realizing it does not fix the type mismatch in Python 3.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Change the input line to weight = float(input('Enter weight: '))
In Python 3.9, `input()` returns a string, not a number. Multiplying a string by a float raises a TypeError. Option D converts the input to a float immediately, which is the minimal fix because it handles both integer and decimal weights correctly without changing the multiplication logic.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use Python 2 style input by importing from __future__
Why it's wrong here
Python 2's input() evaluates expression, which is a security risk; not recommended.
- ✗
Change the multiplication to cost = float(weight) * 1.5
Why it's wrong here
Although it works, it's less efficient and doesn't fix the root cause; also weight remains string for later use.
- ✗
Change the input line to weight = int(input('Enter weight: '))
Why it's wrong here
int() would fail if weight contains decimal point; also loses precision.
- ✓
Change the input line to weight = float(input('Enter weight: '))
Why this is correct
Converts string to float, allowing multiplication.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This PCEP practice question is part of Courseiva's free Python Institute certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PCEP exam.
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