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Python Functions

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7 views

Python Functions

Uploaded by

kpakoup
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SKILLPILLS

Skill Pill: Programming


with Python
Functions

Peter Bratby
Functions SKILLPILLS

1. What is a function?
2. Defining and calling functions
3. Importing modules
4. Local variables
5. Function composition
6. Stack Traces
7. Exercises

2
What is a function? SKILLPILLS

• A self-contained reusable piece of code,


callable by name
• May have parameter(s) and return value(s)

3
Example SKILLPILLS

A simple function

def sayhello(name):
print("Hello, " + name)

sayhello("Pete")

4
Defining and calling a function SKILLPILLS

function name comma-separated


list of parameters colon

def dostuff(x, y):


function body z = x + y optional return
(indented) print("Hello") statement
return z

answer = dostuff(1, 2)

comma-separated
function list of arguments
name
5
Execution order: be careful! SKILLPILLS

!!
answer = dostuff(1, 2)

def dostuff(x, y):


z = x + y
print("Hello")
return z

Define functions at top of file

6
Example: cylinder SKILLPILLS

The volume V of a cylinder of height h and


radius r is given by:

Write a function which calculates the volume of


a cylinder of height h and radius r.

def volume(r, h):


vol = 3.14 * r * r * h
return vol

7
Exercise 1 SKILLPILLS

In free fall, the distance d an object travels in t


seconds is given by:

where g = 9.8 m/s2 is acceleration due to gravity.


a. Write a function which takes a single
parameter t and returns the distance travelled
by an object in free fall. How far does an object
travel in 5 seconds?
b. Change the function so that is takes two
arguments, t and g. How far would that same
object fall on Mars, where g = 3.8 m/s2?
8
Importing modules SKILLPILLS

cylinder.py

def volume(r, h):


vol = 3.14 * r * r * h
return vol

python console
>>> import cylinder
>>> cylinder.volume(5,10)
785.0
>>> import cylinder as c
>>> c.volume(5,10)
785.0

9
Multiple return statements SKILLPILLS

Write a function oddoreven(x) which returns


"odd" if x is odd or "even" if it is even.

def oddoreven(x):
if x % 2 == 0:
return "even"
else:
return "odd"

10
Exercise 2 SKILLPILLS

a. Write a function maximum(x, y) which


returns the larger of two numbers.
b. Import and run it from the python console.

11
Local variables SKILLPILLS

def add3(x): z is a local variable


z = x + 3 which exists only
return z inside the function

x = 2
print(add3(x))
print(z) error! z does not exist here

local variables: exist only inside the function


where they are defined

12
Local variables SKILLPILLS

def add3(x):
x = x + 3
return x

x = 2 output:
print(add3(x)) 5
?
print(x) ?
2

Functions usually do not change the value of


their arguments

13
Function composition SKILLPILLS

def printrow(n): prints a row of


print('*' * n) n stars

def printblock(m, n):


for i in range(m): prints an m by n
printrow(n) block of stars

printblock(2, 3)
output:
***
***

14
Stack trace SKILLPILLS

printblock(3, 0.5)

Traceback (most recent call last):


File "/Users/peter/PycharmProjects/untitled/test2.py", line 8, in <module>
printblock(3,.5)
File "/Users/peter/PycharmProjects/untitled/test2.py", line 6, in printblock
printrow(n) file name line number function name
File "/Users/peter/PycharmProjects/untitled/test2.py", line 2, in printrow
print('*' * n)
TypeError: can't multiply sequence by non-int of type 'float'
error message

15
Exercise 3 SKILLPILLS

a. Write function 'hist' which takes a list of


integers, and prints a histogram:
output:
l = [1,4,5]
*
hist(l)
****
*****

b. Add a second parameter to your function so


that the character can be chosen:
output:
l = [1,4,5]
hist(l, 'Q') Q
QQQQ
QQQQQ

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Exercise 4 SKILLPILLS

Write a function which returns the first even


number in a list.

l = [3, 4, 6, 2, 7]
x = firsteven(l) output:
print(x) 4

17
Exercise 5 SKILLPILLS

a. Write a function which returns the maximum of two numbers:


output:
x = max2(23, 14)
print(x) 23

b. Write a function which returns the maximum of three numbers:


x = max3(23, 14, 50) output:
print(x) 50
c. Write a function which returns the maximum of a list of numbers:
x = maxlist([1,5,6,2,3]) output:
print(x) 6
d. Write a function which takes three lists of integers, and returns
a new list containing the maximum number at each position:
x = max3list([23, 14, 3], [1, 5, 7], [5,
100, 5]) output:
print(x) [23, 100, 7]

18

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