Python .strip method not working -

i have function begins this:

def solve_eq(string1):     string1.strip(' ')     return string1

i'm inputting string '1 + 2 * 3 ** 4' return statement not stripping spaces @ , can't figure out why. i've tried .replace() no luck.

strip not remove whitespace everywhere, @ beginning , end. try this:

def solve_eq(string1):     return string1.replace(' ','')

using strip() in case redundant (obviously, commentators!).

p.s. bonus helpful snippet before take break (thanks op!):

import re a_string = re.sub(' +', ' ', a_string).strip()

WIKI