# Variable in example code isn't declared (cubic minefield)

**URL:** <https://discourse.codecombat.com/t/variable-in-example-code-isnt-declared-cubic-minefield/14406>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Created:** [April 9, 2018, 8:45pm UTC](https://discourse.codecombat.com/t/variable-in-example-code-isnt-declared-cubic-minefield/14406 "2018-04-09T20:45:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bennypr0fane](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.codecombat.com/bennypr0fane/32/8337_2.png) [@bennypr0fane](https://discourse.codecombat.com/u/bennypr0fane)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2018, 8:45pm UTC](https://discourse.codecombat.com/t/variable-in-example-code-isnt-declared-cubic-minefield/14406/1 "2018-04-09T20:45:45Z")

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In cubic minefield in Sarven desert, the intial sample code looks like this:

```python

# Laufe durch das Minenfeld

# Diese Funktion gibt "number" multipliziert mit "times" zurück
def mult(number, times):
    total = 0
    while times > 0:
        total += number
        times -= 1
    return total

```

I don’t understand this, because the variable “times” has no initially declared value - therefore it can’t be used for calculating `times - 1`

I believe the below function `power(number, exponent)` works because the initial values for variables `number` and `exponents` are handed to it by the `while True` loop at the bottom:

```python
# Diese Funktion berechnet die Potenz "number `hoch` exponent".
def power(number, exponent):
    total = 1
    # Vervollständige die Funktion.
def power(number, exponent):
    total = 1
    # Vervollständige die Funktion.
    while exponent > 0:
        total *= number
        exponent -= 1
    return total

# Ändere den folgenden Code nicht
# Die Koeffizienten für die Gleichung findest du auf dem Turm
tower = hero.findFriends()[0]
a = tower.a
b = tower.b
c = tower.c
d = tower.d
x = hero.pos.x

while True:
    # Benutze eine kubische Gleichung, um den Pfad zu finden
    y = a * power(x, 3) + b * power(x, 2) + c * power(x, 1) + d * power(x, 0)
    hero.moveXY(x, y)
    x = x + 5

```

…Whereas the first function `mult(number, times)` couldn’t work if it where run, but it’s never actually called upon in this program. Is that correct?

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**Author:** ![BreninLlwyd](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.codecombat.com/breninllwyd/32/7745_2.png) [@BreninLlwyd](https://discourse.codecombat.com/u/BreninLlwyd)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2018, 8:00pm UTC](https://discourse.codecombat.com/t/variable-in-example-code-isnt-declared-cubic-minefield/14406/2 "2018-04-10T20:00:40Z")

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Your right about the `power(number, exponent)` function, in that it only works if it has numbers put into it in the while loop at the bottom, like `power(x, 2)` , but you could also do this with the `mult(number, times)` function. For example, in the bottom while loop, you could give it the values x and 2: `mult(x, 2)`, and it would calculate the `total` from those two values. Because it is a function, you don’t have to say what the value of times is, because when you put it in a while loop, you give it the variable for times, and any use of times in the function will then be the variable you give it. So, the `mult(number, times)` would work, as long as you give it a value for times, like `mult(x, 2)`. Hope this makes sense.