math project riemann sums

#!/usr/bin/python3
# Name of the file is Riemann.py
# Created by Joshua Kim on November 26, 2014
import sys

# this handy bit of code will see if there is an argument given to the program;
# if there is none, python won't crash and the program will move right along.

try:
    y = sys.argv[1]
    x = sys.argv[2]
except:
    print("No arguments given, moving right along to prompt statements")
    y = input("y-value in inches? ")
    x = input("x-value in inches? ")

# turn x and y variables from strings to numbers. is(annoying) == True

x = float(x)
y = float(y)

# convert x from inches to centimeters
x *= 2.54
y *= 2.54

print(x,y)

area = 0.25 * 0.25
print(area)

# since it's a midpoint sum, we have to find the midpoint of the x and y values
# to plug in to the function.

point_x = (x/2.54 - 0.125)*2.54
point_y = (y/2.54 - 0.125)*2.54

print(point_x)
print(point_y)

# note that the ^ operator in the programming world shifts bytes, so ** is
# used instead.
z = 14.5161 * (1 - (point_x**2) / 116.532025 - (point_y**2) / 32.661225)

print(z)

volume = area * z

print("The volume in centimeters cubed is: " + str(volume))