Python- Convert a mixed number to a float
mixed, numbers, python
Solution
2.6 has the `fractions` module. Just split the string on whitespace, feed the chunks to `fractions.Fraction()`, call `float()` against the result, and add them all up.
Problem
I want to make a function that converts mixed numbers and fractions (as strings) to floats. Here's some examples: ``` '1 1/2' -> 1.5 '11/2' -> 5.5 '7/8' -> 0.875 '3' -> 3 '7.7' -> 7.7 ``` I'm currently using this function, but I think it could be improved. It also doesn't handle numbers that are already in decimal representation ``` def mixedtofloat(txt): mixednum = re.compile("(\\d+) (\\d+)\\/(\\d+)",re.IGNORECASE|re.DOTALL) fraction = re.compile("(\\d+)\\/(\\d+)",re.IGNORECASE|re.DOTALL) integer = re.compile("(\\d+)",re.IGNORECASE|re.DOTALL) m = mixednum.search(txt) n = fraction.search(txt) o = integer.search(txt) if m: return float(m.group(1))+(float(m.group(2))/float(m.group(3))) elif n: return float(n.group(1))/float(n.group(2)) elif o: return float(o.group(1)) else: return txt ``` Thanks!