# Build a Bill Splitter - Step 4

**URL:** <https://forum.freecodecamp.org/t/build-a-bill-splitter-step-4/780320>\
**Category:** Curriculum Help\
**Tags:** python\
**Created:** [February 26, 2026, 5:54am UTC](https://forum.freecodecamp.org/t/build-a-bill-splitter-step-4/780320 "2026-02-26T05:54:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Shado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Shado](https://forum.freecodecamp.org/u/Shado)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 5:54am UTC](https://forum.freecodecamp.org/t/build-a-bill-splitter-step-4/780320/1 "2026-02-26T05:54:09Z")

</div>

### Tell us what’s happening:

stuck need help:

running\_total = 0

num\_of\_friends = 4

appetizers = 37.89  
main\_courses = 57.34  
desserts = 39.39  
drinks = 64.21

running\_total = ‘appetizers, + main\_courses, + desserts, + drinks’  
print(Total bill so far: running\_total)

### Your code so far

```py
running_total = 0

num_of_friends = 4

appetizers = 37.89
main_courses = 57.34
desserts = 39.39
drinks = 64.21

# User Editable Region

running_total = 'appetizers, + main_courses, + desserts, + drinks'
print(Total bill so far: running_total)

# User Editable Region

```

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### Challenge Information:

Build a Bill Splitter - Step 4

> **[freeCodeCamp.org](https://www.freecodecamp.org/learn/python-v9/workshop-bill-splitter/step-4)**
>
> Learn to Code — For Free

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Teller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/freecodecamp/user_avatar/forum.freecodecamp.org/teller/32/412338_2.png) [@Teller](https://forum.freecodecamp.org/u/Teller)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 5:56am UTC](https://forum.freecodecamp.org/t/build-a-bill-splitter-step-4/780320/2 "2026-02-26T05:56:21Z")

</div>

Welcome to the forum @Shado

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/freecodecamp/original/4X/0/6/9/06917c9c68be4b151c0ca36081109f5a79cc7543.png)

Did you notice the message in the console?

Happy coding

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dhess](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/freecodecamp/user_avatar/forum.freecodecamp.org/dhess/32/406235_2.png) [@dhess](https://forum.freecodecamp.org/u/dhess)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 12:42pm UTC](https://forum.freecodecamp.org/t/build-a-bill-splitter-step-4/780320/3 "2026-02-26T12:42:49Z")

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> [@Shado](#):
>
> ‘appetizers, + main\_courses, + desserts, + drinks’

Why quotes and commas here? You are summing numbers.

> [@Shado](#):
>
> `print(Total bill so far: running_total)`

Is Total bill so far: a variable? Or a string?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Shado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Shado](https://forum.freecodecamp.org/u/Shado)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2026, 1:52am UTC](https://forum.freecodecamp.org/t/build-a-bill-splitter-step-4/780320/4 "2026-02-27T01:52:20Z")

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that’s exactly what pops up. I can’t figure it out.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Shado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Shado](https://forum.freecodecamp.org/u/Shado)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2026, 1:55am UTC](https://forum.freecodecamp.org/t/build-a-bill-splitter-step-4/780320/5 "2026-02-27T01:55:14Z")

</div>

it said did you forget the commas so I tried what I could.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Teller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/freecodecamp/user_avatar/forum.freecodecamp.org/teller/32/412338_2.png) [@Teller](https://forum.freecodecamp.org/u/Teller)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2026, 2:06am UTC](https://forum.freecodecamp.org/t/build-a-bill-splitter-step-4/780320/6 "2026-02-27T02:06:57Z")

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When you want to print a string you need to use quote marks.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/freecodecamp/original/3X/e/1/e1c433102e34b46dfaa3e15d13ab9a514b127078.svg) [@system](https://forum.freecodecamp.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [March 27, 2026, 2:07am UTC](https://forum.freecodecamp.org/t/build-a-bill-splitter-step-4/780320/7 "2026-03-27T02:07:01Z")

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