Python TypeError when dividing a raw input variable by a number

Question

I want to convert an entered lb weight to kg and I get the following error...

TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for /: \'unicode\' and \'float\'<

Answer 1

That's because with raw_input, the input is raw, meaning a string:

lbweight = float(raw_input("Current Weight (lb): ") )

kgweight = lbweight/2.20462

Answer 2

raw_input returns a string, you should convert the input to float using float():

float(raw_input("Current Weight (lb): "))

Answer 3

Pay attention to the error message TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for /: 'str' and 'float'

>>> kgweight = lbweight/2.20462

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<pyshell#17>", line 1, in <module>
    kgweight = lbweight/2.20462
TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for /: 'str' and 'float'
>>> 

So if 2.20462 is a float then which is a string here? What does the documentation say about raw_input?

If the prompt argument is present, it is written to standard output without a trailing newline. The function then reads a line from input, converts it to a string (stripping a trailing newline), and returns that. When EOF is read, EOFError is raised.