Question

Python 3

Write a function named starCounter that takes three parameters:

1. a dictionary named starDictionary. Each key in starDictionary is the name of a star (a string). Its value is a dictionary with two keys: the string 'distance' and the string 'type'. The value associated with key 'distance' is the distance from our solar system in light years. The value associated with key 'type' is a classification such as 'supergiant' or 'dwarf'.

2. a number, maxDistance

3. a string, classification

The function starCounter should compute the number of stars in starDictionary that are within maxDistance of our solar system and are of type classification and return that number. Note that the word “within” means “inside”; as such, it would not be inclusive of the boundary.

For example, the following would be correct input and output:

starDictionary = {'Polaris': {'distance': 430, 'type': 'super giant'}, 'Alpha Centauri': {'distance': 4.37, 'type': 'spectral'}}

print(starCounter(starDictionary, 10, 'spectral'))

1

Answer 1

def starCounter(starDictionary, maxDistance, classification):
    count = 0
    for star in starDictionary:
        if starDictionary[star]['type'] == classification and starDictionary[star]['distance'] < maxDistance:
            count += 1
    return count


starDictionary = {'Polaris': {'distance': 430, 'type': 'super giant'},
                  'Alpha Centauri': {'distance': 4.37, 'type': 'spectral'}}
print(starCounter(starDictionary, 10, 'spectral'))