Is anyone else working on the first question? I just started this course and I have no programming experience. I'd love a study buddy!

Question

rsmith6559 · Answer

Without knowing what the first question is, it's impossible to help you.

rsmith6559 · Answer

raw_input() is spelled with the underscore.  It's used in Python v2.  In Python v2, print is a statement, not a function.  print() is a function in Python v3, and input is used in v3.

Most (all?) of the courses use Python v2.

new_guy · Answer

hey im down for a study buddy, i finished the first section, so if you need help why not send me an email or IM and we can work together.

bestoffools · Answer

I would also love some peers in this. I am new to programming as well. I have just started finished the first lecture and reading. I was having some difficulty with the first exercise, and this could be my lack of maths skills (its been some time since my last class) 

	Positive root of the following equation:
34*x^2 + 68*x - 510
Recall:
a*x^2 + b*x + c
x1 = ( - b + sqrt ( b*b - 4*a*c ) ) / ( 2*a)

I couldn't quite get this to work in python (v.2)

rsmith6559 · Answer

Python uses a double asterick for power, not the caret:
x**2

sqrt is a function defined in the math library so the library would have to be imported into this namespace to be uses as above:
from math import *

bestoffools · Answer

okay, thank you! I'll give it a go and let you know how it goes