So why does the "" affect the mathematical solution in Python? Are string values and normal numeric values different? If so, why?

Yes, strings and numbers are different in terms of how different operations work on them. For example,

Numbers are used for mathematical calculations.

print(5 + 5)  # Output: 10

Strings are just text, even if they contain numbers.

print("5" + "5")  # Output: "55"

When you put numbers inside quotes, Python treats them as text instead of numbers. That’s why "5" + "5" gives "55" instead of 10—because Python is joining two strings together, not adding numbers.

Also, you'll learn these operations in the upcoming lessons.

Hope this helps. If you have a follow-up question, feel free to let me know. I'm happy to help.