Positional arguments in Python - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output of function with positional arguments

What is the output of this Python code?

Python

def greet(name, age):
    return f"Hello {name}, you are {age} years old."

result = greet("Alice", 30)
print(result)

A Hello Alice, you are 30 years old.

B Hello 30, you are Alice years old.

C TypeError: greet() missing 1 required positional argument

D Hello name, you are age years old.

💡 Hint

Remember the order of positional arguments matters.

The function greet takes two positional arguments: name and age. The call greet("Alice", 30) assigns name='Alice' and age=30, so the output is 'Hello Alice, you are 30 years old.'.

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Function call with swapped positional arguments

What will this code print?

Python

def calculate(x, y):
    return x - y

print(calculate(5, 10))

A 5

B TypeError

C -5

D 15

💡 Hint

Check the order of subtraction with given arguments.

The function subtracts y from x. With x=5 and y=10, the result is 5 - 10 = -5.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

Positional arguments with default values

What is the output of this code?

Python

def info(name, age=25):
    return f"Name: {name}, Age: {age}"

print(info("Bob"))

A Name: Bob, Age:

B Name: Bob, Age: 25

C TypeError: missing required positional argument 'age'

D Name: , Age: 25

💡 Hint

Default values are used when arguments are not provided.

The function info has a default value for age=25. Calling info("Bob") uses name='Bob' and age=25 by default.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

Error from missing positional argument

What error does this code raise?

Python

def multiply(a, b):
    return a * b

result = multiply(4)

A TypeError: multiply() missing 1 required positional argument: 'b'

B TypeError: multiply() takes 1 positional argument but 2 were given

C NameError: name 'b' is not defined

D 4

💡 Hint

Check how many arguments the function expects and how many are given.

The function multiply requires two positional arguments a and b. Calling multiply(4) provides only one argument, so Python raises a TypeError about the missing argument 'b'.

🧠 Conceptual

expert

Order of positional arguments in function call

Given the function definition def func(a, b, c):, which call will assign a=1, b=2, and c=3 correctly?

A func(3, 2, 1)

B func(b=2, a=1, c=3)

C func(1, c=3, 2)

D func(1, 2, 3)

💡 Hint

Positional arguments must be in the order of parameters.

Positional arguments are assigned in order: the first value to 'a', second to 'b', third to 'c'. Option D matches this order. Option D swaps values. Option D uses keyword arguments, not positional. Option D mixes positional and keyword incorrectly.