Python : 'Can't assign to operator' Syntax error

Question

I'm trying to write a program where test scores are collected in lists and then certain factors such as highest scores are outputted. However when I try to assign intH1 (highest result for test 1) I get the above error. The line is intH1 = score1_list[intCount] and strHN1 = name_list[intCount]

if score1_list[intCount] > intH1:
     intH1 = score1_list[intCount] and strHN1 = name_list[intCount]
if score2_list[intCount] > intH2:
     intH2 = score2_list[intCount] and strHN2 = name_list[intCount]
if score3_list[intCount] > intH3:
     intH3 = score3_list[intCount] and strHN3 = name_list[intCount]
if total_list[intCount] > intHT:
     intHT = total_list[intCount] and strHNT = name_list[intCount]`

Answer 1

You cannot use and to assign two variables. Python parses your assignment as:

intH1 = (score1_list[intCount] and strHN1) = name_list[intCount]

trying to assign the result of the name_list[intCount] expression to both intH1 and to score1_list[intCount] and strHN1 . and is an operator, which can only be used in expressions , but assignment is a statement . Statements can contain expressions, expressions cannot contain statements.

This is why the defined grammar for assignments uses the grammar entities *expression_list and yield_expression , two expression forms you can use, only in the part to the right of the =` equals sign:

assignment_stmt ::=  (target_list "=")+ (expression_list | yield_expression)

while the target_list definition doesn't allow any use of arbitrary expressions.

Use separate lines for assignment:

intH1 = score1_list[intCount]
strHN1 = name_list[intCount]

or use tuple assignment:

intH1, strHN1 = score1_list[intCount], name_list[intCount]

Answer 2

Each branch of the if does two assignments. You don't need an and between them, you just need to separate them to two statements:

if score1_list[intCount] > intH1:
    intH1 = score1_list[intCount]
    strHN1 = name_list[intCount]
if score2_list[intCount] > intH2:
    intH2 = score2_list[intCount]
    strHN2 = name_list[intCount]
if score3_list[intCount] > intH3:
    intH3 = score3_list[intCount]
    strHN3 = name_list[intCount]
if total_list[intCount] > intHT:
    intHT = total_list[intCount]
    strHNT = name_list[intCount]