TheAlgorithms/Python · error · ValueError

vol_circular_cylinder() only accepts non-negative values

Error message

vol_circular_cylinder() only accepts non-negative values

What it means

Raised by vol_circular_cylinder(radius, height) in maths/volume.py when height or radius is negative. The function returns radius**2 * height * pi after validating both inputs; zero radius or height is accepted and returns 0.0.

Source

Thrown at maths/volume.py:397

    >>> vol_circular_cylinder(1, 1)
    3.141592653589793
    >>> vol_circular_cylinder(4, 3)
    150.79644737231007
    >>> vol_circular_cylinder(1.6, 1.6)
    12.867963509103795
    >>> vol_circular_cylinder(0, 0)
    0.0
    >>> vol_circular_cylinder(-1, 1)
    Traceback (most recent call last):
        ...
    ValueError: vol_circular_cylinder() only accepts non-negative values
    >>> vol_circular_cylinder(1, -1)
    Traceback (most recent call last):
        ...
    ValueError: vol_circular_cylinder() only accepts non-negative values
    """
    if height < 0 or radius < 0:
        raise ValueError("vol_circular_cylinder() only accepts non-negative values")
    # Volume is radius squared * height * pi
    return pow(radius, 2) * height * pi


def vol_hollow_circular_cylinder(
    inner_radius: float, outer_radius: float, height: float
) -> float:
    """
    Calculate the Volume of a Hollow Circular Cylinder.

    >>> vol_hollow_circular_cylinder(1, 2, 3)
    28.274333882308138
    >>> vol_hollow_circular_cylinder(1.6, 2.6, 3.6)
    47.50088092227767
    >>> vol_hollow_circular_cylinder(-1, 2, 3)
    Traceback (most recent call last):
        ...
    ValueError: vol_hollow_circular_cylinder() only accepts non-negative values

View on GitHub (pinned to f5988cc097)

Solutions

1. Convert signed depths to magnitudes with abs() before calling.
2. Validate radius and height >= 0 where the data enters your program.
3. Catch ValueError and re-raise with context (which object/record had the bad dimension) for easier debugging.

Example fix

# before
vol = vol_circular_cylinder(r, borehole_depth)  # ValueError if depth negative

# after
vol = vol_circular_cylinder(r, abs(borehole_depth))

if radius < 0 or height < 0:
    raise ValueError(f'cylinder needs non-negative r/h: {radius}, {height}')
vol = vol_circular_cylinder(radius, height)

try:
    vol = vol_circular_cylinder(r, h)
except ValueError:
    vol = vol_circular_cylinder(abs(r), abs(h))  # only if signs are artifacts

When it happens

Trigger: Calling vol_circular_cylinder(-1, 1) or vol_circular_cylinder(1, -1); heights encoded as signed depth (e.g. -10 for a borehole) passed directly.

Common situations: Downward measurements (drilling, excavation) stored as negative depth; CSV sign conventions differing between exports; reusing a signed delta as height.

Related errors

• surface_area_cube() only accepts non-negative values
• surface_area_cuboid() only accepts non-negative values
• surface_area_sphere() only accepts non-negative values
• surface_area_hemisphere() only accepts non-negative values
• surface_area_cone() only accepts non-negative values

AI-assisted analysis of TheAlgorithms/Python@f5988cc097 (2026-08-14). Data as JSON: /api/errors/826868a421ce5127. Report an issue: GitHub.