What is Python's coerce() used for?

Question

What are common uses for Python\'s built-in coerce function? I can see applying it if I do not know the type of a numeric value as per the document

Answer 1

Python core programing says:

Function coerce () provides the programmer do not rely on the Python interpreter, but custom two numerical type conversion."

e.g.

>>> coerce(1, 2)
(1, 2)
>>>
>>> coerce(1.3, 134L)
(1.3, 134.0)
>>>
>>> coerce(1, 134L)
(1L, 134L)
>>>
>>> coerce(1j, 134L)
(1j, (134+0j))
>>>
>>> coerce(1.23-41j, 134L)
((1.23-41j), (134+0j))