title: Passing a set as a parameter in Python
body: <p>I am trying to create a method in python (and utilizing numpy) to take a matrix <code>A</code> and reduce it to reduced row echelon form using the Gaussian Elimination Method. </p>
  
  <p>I've run into my first problem which is trying to pass a set as a parameter. </p>
  
  <p>For example:<code>def gauss([A]):</code> gets me an error which was surprising to me. Why is this?</p>
  
  <p>Also, the way I plan to construct matrices (maybe it's the only way?) in the program is as follows:  </p>
  
  <pre><code>a = numpy.array([[1 ,2 ,3] , [4 ,5 ,6] , [7 ,8 ,9]])
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>So I would like to be able to pass this <code>a</code> into my method <code>gauss(a)</code>, and then have gauss do terrible things unto thy matrix</p>
  
  <p>thank you</p>