Cant multiply sequence by non-int type 'str'

[foxtreat]

trying to make a script that solves a simple math problem (example x(2)+4x-2=0)
however i get this error and can't find why i get it,i went from python 2 to 3 and had to add () to the print commands ,even if i change input to raw_input and try it in python 2 i get the same error
here is my code

import math
print  ("Ax*2+Bx+C=0")
print ("what is your A?")
a = input('my a is: ')
print ("what is your B?")
b = input('my b is: ')
print ("what is your C?")
c = input('my c is: ')
print ("calculating")
b2 = b*b
d = b2-4*a*c
sqd = math.sqrt(d)
x1a = -b+sqd
x2a = -b-sqd
ax2 = a*2
x1 = x1a/ax2
x2 = x2a/ax2
print ("your X1 is ") + x1 +  ("your X2 is") + x2
print ("your discriminant is") + d

here is the error

Error:
 Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "math.py", line 10, in <module>
    b2 = b*b
TypeError: can't multiply sequence by non-int of type 'str'

[ichabod801]

If you are using Python 3.x, input returns a string. You need to convert to integer (or float, if that is what you are expecting).

>>> int('801') == 801
True
>>> 4 * int('27')
108

The float() function does the same for numbers with a decimal part.

[foxtreat]

i need it to be able to handle numbers like 2.31 and -12.9 for example so i set it as float if im correct
current code is this,it still fails

import math
print  ("Ax*2+Bx+C=0")
print ("what is your A?")
(a) = input('my a is: ')
print ("what is your B?")
(b) = input('my b is: ')
print ("what is your C?")
(c) = input('my c is: ')
print ("calculating")
float(a)
float(b)
float(c)
b2 = float(b)*float(b)
float(b2)
d = float(b2)-4*float(a)*float(c)
float(d)
sqd = math.sqrt(d)
x1a = float(-b)+float(sqd)
float(x1a)
x2a = float(-b)-float(sqd)
float(x2a)
ax2 = float(a)*2
float(ax2)
x1 = float(x1a)/float(ax2)
float(x1)
x2 = float(x2a)/float(ax2)
float(x2)
print ("your X1 is " + x1 +  "your X2 is") + x2
print ("your discriminant is" + d ) 

error here

Error:
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "math.py", line 18, in <module>
    x1a = float(-b)+float(sqd)
TypeError: bad operand type for unary -: 'str'

[ichabod801]

The float function doesn't change the variable, it creates a new floating point number from the string. So you need to assign it to something. Often you just do a = float(a). Then you don't have to keep converting after the initial conversion. That should clear up your error.

[foxtreat]

thank you!after some tinkering i managed to get the code to run AND made it work better
here is the final deal capable of solving a certain math problem

 import math
    print  ("Ax*2+Bx+C=0")
    print ("what is your A?")
    (a) = input('my a is: ')
    print ("what is your B?")
    (b) = input('my b is: ')
    print ("what is your C?")
    (c) = input('my c is: ')
    print ("calculating")
    a = float(a)
    b = float(b)
    c = float(c)
    b2 = b*b
    b2 = float(b2)
    d = b2-4*a*c
    d = float(d)
    if d < 0: 
        d = str(d)
        print ("\n" * 200)
        print (" D is Less than 0,There are no answers")
        d = str(d)
        exit
    d = float(d)
    if d >= 0:
        d = str(d)
        print ("D is: " + d )
        d = float(d)
        sqd = math.sqrt(d)
        sqd = float(sqd)
        x1a = -b+sqd
        x1a = float(x1a)
        x2a = -b-sqd
        x2a = float(x2a)
        ax2 = a*2
        ax2 = float(ax2)
        x1 = x1a/ax2
        x1 = str(x1)
        x2 = x2a/ax2
        x2 = str(x2)
        if d >= 0:
            d = str(d)
            print ("\n" * 200)
            print ("your X1 is " + x1 +  " your X2 is " + x2)
            print ("your discriminant is " + d )
            exit 

[ichabod801]

Again, you don't need to keep floating things. b2 is the product of two floats, so it's already a float, so you don't need b2 = float(b2).

[foxtreat]

oh sorry,i didn't know if float+float=float or str and decided to play safe,anyway the code works and that extra kilobyte won't do much harm
MANY thanks!!