def solution(s): result = 0 count = 0 for c in s: if c == '>': count += 1 if c == '<': result += count return 2 * result tests = [ (">----<", 2), ("<<>><", 4), ("--->-><-><-->-", 10), ] for i, o in tests: result = solution(i) print (i, result == o, result, o)