Use isinstance.
>>> x = 12
>>> isinstance(x, int)
True
>>> y = 12.0
>>> isinstance(y, float)
True
So:
>>> if isinstance(x, int):
print('x is a int!')
x is a int!
In case of long integers, the above won't work. So you need to do:
>>> x = 12L
>>> import numbers
>>> isinstance(x, numbers.Integral)
True
>>> isinstance(x, int)
False
Answer from user225312 on Stack OverflowUse isinstance.
>>> x = 12
>>> isinstance(x, int)
True
>>> y = 12.0
>>> isinstance(y, float)
True
So:
>>> if isinstance(x, int):
print('x is a int!')
x is a int!
In case of long integers, the above won't work. So you need to do:
>>> x = 12L
>>> import numbers
>>> isinstance(x, numbers.Integral)
True
>>> isinstance(x, int)
False
I like @ninjagecko's answer the most.
This would also work:
for Python 2.x
isinstance(n, (int, long, float))
Python 3.x doesn't have long
isinstance(n, (int, float))
there is also type complex for complex numbers
Videos
Hi all. Im a complete beginner learning the basics. Im curious as to why Python has two different types of numbers (3 including complex) : Floats and integers. Why cant we just use any number and if we do wanna use a decimal point, we just use a decimal point without having to indicate it as a float? What is the significance of differentiating the two? Thanks!
To check if a float value is a whole number, use the float.is_integer() method:
>>> (1.0).is_integer()
True
>>> (1.555).is_integer()
False
The method was added to the float type in Python 2.6.
Take into account that in Python 2, 1/3 is 0 (floor division for integer operands!), and that floating point arithmetic can be imprecise (a float is an approximation using binary fractions, not a precise real number). But adjusting your loop a little this gives:
>>> for n in range(12000, -1, -1):
... if (n ** (1.0/3)).is_integer():
... print n
...
27
8
1
0
which means that anything over 3 cubed, (including 10648) was missed out due to the aforementioned imprecision:
>>> (4**3) ** (1.0/3)
3.9999999999999996
>>> 10648 ** (1.0/3)
21.999999999999996
You'd have to check for numbers close to the whole number instead, or not use float() to find your number. Like rounding down the cube root of 12000:
>>> int(12000 ** (1.0/3))
22
>>> 22 ** 3
10648
If you are using Python 3.5 or newer, you can use the math.isclose() function to see if a floating point value is within a configurable margin:
>>> from math import isclose
>>> isclose((4**3) ** (1.0/3), 4)
True
>>> isclose(10648 ** (1.0/3), 22)
True
For older versions, the naive implementation of that function (skipping error checking and ignoring infinity and NaN) as mentioned in PEP485:
def isclose(a, b, rel_tol=1e-9, abs_tol=0.0):
return abs(a - b) <= max(rel_tol * max(abs(a), abs(b)), abs_tol)
We can use the modulo (%) operator. This tells us how many remainders we have when we divide x by y - expresses as x % y. Every whole number must divide by 1, so if there is a remainder, it must not be a whole number.
This function will return a boolean, True or False, depending on whether n is a whole number.
def is_whole(n):
return n % 1 == 0
Hello, please can someone explain to me when to use the float and int functions?
I mean should I use float when I am strictly dealing with decimal numbers, or when I want to convert whole numbers to decimal numbers?
pythonlearner
The reason you get this error is because you divide the integer 10 by 3 using integer division, getting the integral number 3 in the form of an int instance as a result. You then try to call the method is_integer() on that result but that method is in the float class and not in the int class, just as the error message says.
A quick fix would be to change your code and divide by 3.0 instead of 3 which would result in floating point division and give you a float instance on which you can call the is_integer() method like you are trying to. Do this:
n = 10
((n/3.0)).is_integer()
You are using Python 2.7. Unless you use from __future__ import division, dividing two integers will return you and integer. is_integer exists only in float, hence your error.