[Tutor] Built in functions

[Peter Otten]

Dane Saltzman wrote:

> I'm new to python and I was wondering if you could tell me how I would:
> 
> first, define a function,distance_from_zero, with one parameter (choose
> any parameter name you like). Second, have that function do the following:
> 1. Check the type of the input it receives.
> 
> 2. If the type is int or float, the function should return the absolute
> value of the function input.
> 
> 3. If the type is any other type, the function should return "This isn't
> an integer or a float!"

I'm assuming that the subject line is a hint from your professor where you 
should look for functions that

(a) check if a value is of a particular type
(b) calculate an absolute value

I suggest that you scan the table at

http://docs.python.org/library/functions.html

for candidates and try to come up with a suggestion for the implementation 
of distance_from_zero() yourself. Come back with the code you have if you 
run into problems. We will be glad to help you fix them.