Type A: Short Answer Questions/Conceptual Questions

Question 1
What are data types in Python? How are they important?
Answer
Data types are used to identify the type of data a memory location can hold and the associated operations of
handling it. The data that we deal with in our programs can be of many types like character, integer, real
number, string, boolean, etc. hence programming languages including Python provide ways and facilities to
handle all these different types of data through data types. The data types define the capabilities to handle a
specific type of data such as memory space it allocates to hold a certain type of data and the range of values
supported for a given data type, etc.

Question 2
How many integer types are supported by Python? Name them.
Answer
Two integer types are supported by Python. They are:

1. Integers (signed)
2. Booleans

Question 3
How are these numbers different from one another (with respect to Python)? 33, 33.0, 33j, 33 + j
Answer
The number 33 is an integer whereas 33.0 is a floating-point number. 33j represent the imaginary part of a
complex number. 33 + j is a complex number.

Question 4
The complex numbers have two parts : real and imaginary. In which data type are real and imaginary parts
represented ?
Answer
In Python, the real and imaginary parts of a complex number are represented as floating-point numbers.

Question 5
How many string types does Python support? How are they different from one another?
Answer
Python supports two types of strings — Single-line strings and Multi-line strings. Single line strings are
enclosed in single or double quotes and terminate in one line. Multi-line strings store multiple lines of text
and are enclosed in triple quotes.

Question 6
What will following code print?
str1 = '''Hell
o'''
str2 = '''Hell\
o'''
print(len(str1) > len(str2))
Answer
This code will print:
True
len(str1) is 6 due to the EOL character. len(str2) is 5 as backslash (\) character is not counted in the length of
string. As len(str1) is greater than len(str2) so the output is True.

Question 7
What are Immutable and Mutable types in Python? List immutable and mutable types of Python.
Answer
Mutable types are those whose values can be changed in place whereas Immutable types are those that can
never change their value in place.
Mutable types in Python are:

1. Lists
2. Dictionaries
3. Sets
Immutable types in Python are:

1. Integers
2. Floating-Point numbers
3. Booleans
 4. Strings
5. Tuples

Question 8
What are three internal key-attributes of a value-variable in Python ? Explain with example.
Answer
The three internal key-attributes of a value-variable in Python are:

1. Type
2. Value
3. Id
For example, consider this:
a=4
The type of a is int which can be found with the built-in function type() like this:
type(a).
Value can be found using the built-in function print() like this:
print(a)
It will give the output as 4 which is value contained in variable a.
Id is the memory location of the object which can be determined using built-in function id() like this:
id(a)

Question 9
Is it true that if two objects return True for is operator, they will also return True for == operator?
Answer
Yes, if is operator returns true, it implicitly means that the equality operator will also return True. is operator
returning true implies that both the variables point to the same object and hence == operator must return
True.

Question 10
Are these values equal? Why/why not?

1. 20 and 20.0
2. 20 and int(20)
3. str(20) and str(20.0)
4. 'a' and "a"
Answer

1. The type of 20 is int whereas the type of 20.0 is float so they are two different objects. Both have the
same value of 20. So, as values are same equality (==) operator return True but as objects are
different is operator returns False.
2. The value and type of both 20 and int(20) are the same and both point to the same object so both
equality (==) and is operator returns True.
3. For str(20) and str(20.0), both equality (==) and is operator returns False as their values are different
and they point to two different objects.
4. For 'a' and "a", both equality (==) and is operator returns True as their values are same and they point
to the same object.

Question 11
What is an atom in Python? What is an expression?
Answer
In Python, an atom is something that has a value. Identifiers, literals, strings, lists, tuples, sets, dictionaries,
etc. are all atoms. An expression in Python, is any valid combination of operators and atoms. It is composed
of one or more operations.

Question 12
What is the difference between implicit type conversion and explicit type conversion?
Answer
Implicit Type Conversion Explicit Type Conversion
An implicit type conversion is automatically An explicit type conversion is user-
performed by the compiler when differing data defined conversion that forces an
types are intermixed in an expression. expression to be of specific type.
An implicit type conversion is performed without An explicit type conversion is specified
programmer's intervention. explicitly by the programmer.
Example: Example:
a, b = 5, 25.5 a, b = 5, 25.5
 Implicit Type Conversion Explicit Type Conversion
c=a+b c = int(a + b)

Question 13
Two objects (say a and b) when compared using == ,return True. But Python gives False when compared
using is operator. Why? (i.e., a == b is True but why is a is b False?)
Answer
As equality (==) operator returns True, it means that a and b have the same value but as is operator returns
False, it means that variables a and b point to different objects in memory. For example, consider the below
Python statements:
>>> a = 'abc'
>>> b = input("Enter a string: ")
Enter a string: abc
>>> a == b
True
>>> a is b
False
Here, both a and b have the same value 'abc' but they point to different objects.

Question 14
Given str1 = "Hello", what will be the values of:
(a) str1[0]
(b) str1[1]
(c) str1[-5]
(d) str1[-4]
(e) str1[5]
Answer
(a) H
(b) e
(c) H
(d) e
(e) IndexError: string index out of range

Explanation
H0−5e1−4l2−3l3−2o4−1−5H0−4e1−3l2−2l3−1o4

Question 15
If you give the following for str1 = "Hello", why does Python report error?
str1[2] = 'p'
Answer
Python reports error because strings are immutable and hence item assignment is not supported.

Question 16
What will the result given by the following?
(a) type (6 + 3)
(b) type (6 -3)
(c) type (6 *3)
(d) type (6 / 3)
(e) type (6 // 3)
(f) type (6 % 3)
Answer

⇒ int + int
(a) type (6 + 3)

⇒ int
So the result is int.

⇒ int - int
(b) type (6 -3)

⇒ int
So the result is int.

⇒ int * int
(c) type (6 * 3)

⇒ int
So the result is int.

⇒ int / int
(d) type (6 / 3)

⇒ float
So the result is float.
⇒ int // int
(e) type (6 // 3)

⇒ int
So the result is int.

⇒ int % int
(f) type (6 % 3)

⇒ int
So the result is int.

Question 17
What are augmented assignment operators? How are they useful?
Answer
Augmented assignment operators combine the impact of an arithmetic operator with an assignment operator.
For example, to add the value of b to the value of a and assign the result back to a then instead of writing:
a=a+b
we can write
a += b.
Augmented assignment operators are useful as they provide a shorthand way by combining the arithmetic
and assignment operators.

Question 18
Differentiate between (555/222)**2 and (555.0/222)**2.
Answer
In the first expression, 555 is of int type whereas in the second expression 555.0 is of float type.

Question 19
Given three Boolean variables a, b, c as : a = False, b = True, c = False. Evaluate the following Boolean
expressions:
(a) b and c
(b) b or c
(c) not a and b
(d) (a and b) or not c
(e) not b and not (a or c)
(f) not ((not b or not a) and c) or a
Answer

⇒ False and True

(a) b and c

⇒ False

⇒ True or False
(b) b or c

⇒ True

⇒ not False and True

(c) not a and b

⇒ True and True

⇒ True

⇒ (False and True) or not False

(d) (a and b) or not c

⇒ False or not False

⇒ False or True
⇒ True

⇒ not True and not (False or False)

(e) not b and not (a or c)

⇒ not True and not False

⇒ False and True
⇒ False

⇒ not ((not True or not False) and False) or False

(f) not ((not b or not a) and c) or a

⇒ not ((False or True) and False) or False

⇒ not (True and False) or False
⇒ not False or False
⇒ True or False
⇒ True

Question 20
What would following code fragments result in? Given x = 3.
(a) 1 < x
(b) x >= 4
(c) x == 3
(d) x == 3.0
(e) "Hello" == "Hello"
(f) "Hello" > "hello"
(g) 4/2 == 2.0
(h) 4/2 == 2
(i) x < 7 and 4 > 5.
Answer
(a) True
(b) False
(c) True
(d) True
(e) True
(f) False
(g) True
(h) True
(i) False

Question 21
Write following expressions in Python:
(a) 13b2h31b2h
Answer
1 / 3 * b * b * h
(b) πr2hπr2h
Answer
math.pi * r * r * h
(c) 13πr2h31πr2h
Answer
1 / 3 * math.pi * r * r * h
(d) (x2−x1)2+(y2−y1)2(x2−x1)2+(y2−y1)2
Answer
math.sqrt((x2 - x1) ** 2 + (y2 - y1) ** 2)
(e) (x−h)2+(y−k)2=r2(x−h)2+(y−k)2=r2
Answer
(x - h) ** 2 + (y - k) ** 2 == r ** 2
(f) x=−b+b2−4ac2ax=2a−b+b2−4ac
Answer
x = (-b + math.sqrt(b * b - 4 * a * c)) / (2 * a)
(g) an×am=an+man×am=an+m
Answer
a ** n * a ** m == a ** (n + m)
(h) (an)m=anm(an)m=anm
Answer
(a ** n) ** m == a ** (n * m)
(i) anam=an−maman=an−m
Answer
a ** n / a ** m == a ** (n - m)
(j) a−n=1ana−n=an1
Answer
a ** -n == 1 / a ** n

Question 22
int('a') produces error. Why ?
Answer
int() converts its argument into an integer. As 'a' is a letter, it cannot be converted into a valid integer hence
int('a') produces an error.

Question 23
int('a') produces error but following expression having int('a') in it, does not return error. Why?
len('a') + 2 or int('a')
Answer
The or operator tests the second operand only if the first operand is false otherwise it ignores it. In the
expression, the first operand of or operator is len('a') + 2. It evaluates to 3 and as it is a non-zero value hence
it is True for or operator. As first operand of or operator is True so it doesn't evaluate its second argument
int('a') and no error is returned.

Question 24
Write expression to convert the values 17, len('ab') to (i) integer (ii) str (iii) boolean values
Answer
(i) int(17), int(len('ab'))
(ii) str(17), str(len('ab'))
(iii) bool(17), bool(len('ab'))

Question 25
Evaluate and Justify:
(i) 22 / 17 = 37 / 47 + 88 /83
(ii) len('375')**2
Answer
(i) It produces an error as LHS value in this case is an expression that evaluates to a literal whereas LHS
value should be a variable.

⇒ 3 ** 2 [∵ len('375') = 3]
(ii) len('375')**2

⇒9 [∵ 3 * 3 = 9]

Question 26
Evaluate and Justify:
(i) 22.0/7.0 - 22/7
(ii) 22.0/7.0 - int(22.0/7.0)
(iii) 22/7 - int (22.0)/7
Answer

⇒0
(i) 22.0/7.0 - 22/7

As values of 22.0/7.0 and 22/7 are equal, subtracting them will give the result as 0.0.

⇒ 3.142857142857143 - 3
(ii) 22.0/7.0 - int(22.0/7.0)

⇒ 0.142857142857143

⇒ 0.0
(iii) 22/7 - int (22.0)/7

int (22.0) gives 22 so the expression becomes 22/7 - 22/7 which results in 0.0

Question 27
Evaluate and Justify:
(i) false and None
(ii) 0 and None
(iii) True and None
(iv) None and None
Answer
(i) This produces an error as false is an invalid literal in Python. It should be False. Had the expression being
False and None, the return value will be False.
(ii) This logical expression evaluates to 0. As first operand of and operator is false so it will return the first
operand itself.
(iii) This logical expression evaluates to None. As first operand of and operator is True so it will return the
second operand.
(iv) This logical expression evaluates to None. As first operand of and operator is false so it will return the
first operand itself.

Question 28
Evaluate and Justify:
(a) 0 or None and "or"
(b) 1 or None and 'a' or 'b'
(c) False and 23
(d) 23 and False
(e) not (1 == 1 and 0 != 1)
(f) "abc" == "Abc" and not (2 == 3 or 3 == 4)
(g) False and 1 == 1 or not True or 1 == 1 and False or 0 == 0
Answer

⇒ 0 or None [∵ and has higher precedence than or]

(a) 0 or None and "or"

⇒ None

⇒ 1 or None or 'b'
(b) 1 or None and 'a' or 'b'

⇒ 1 or 'b'
⇒1

⇒ False
(c) False and 23

⇒ False
(d) 23 and False
 ⇒ not (True and True)
(e) not (1 == 1 and 0 != 1)

⇒ not True
⇒ False

⇒ "abc" == "Abc" and not (False or False)

(f) "abc" == "Abc" and not (2 == 3 or 3 == 4)

⇒ "abc" == "Abc" and not False

⇒ False and not False
⇒ False and True
⇒ False

⇒ False and True or not True or True and False or True

(g) False and 1 == 1 or not True or 1 == 1 and False or 0 == 0

⇒ False and True or False or True and False or True

⇒ False or False or False or True
⇒ False or False or True
⇒ False or True
⇒ True

Question 29
Evaluate the following for each expression that is successfully evaluated, determine its value and type for
unsuccessful expression, state the reason.
(a) len("hello") == 25/5 or 20/10
(b) 3 < 5 or 50/(5 - (3 + 2))
(c) 50/(5 - (3 + 2)) or 3 < 5
(d) 2 * (2 * (len("01")))
Answer

⇒ 5 == 25/5 or 20/10
(a) len("hello") == 25/5 or 20/10

⇒ 5 == 5 or 2
⇒ True or 2
⇒ True
The type of result is Boolean.

⇒ True or 50/(5 - (3 + 2)) [∵ first operand is True, second operand is not evaluated so no division by 0
(b) 3 < 5 or 50/(5 - (3 + 2))

⇒ True
error happens]

The type of result is Boolean.

⇒ 50/(5 - 5) or 3 < 5
(c) 50/(5 - (3 + 2)) or 3 < 5

⇒ 50/0 or 3 < 5
⇒ Division by Zero Error
As the denominator of or operator's first operand is 0, Division by Zero error occurs.

⇒ 2 * (2 * 2)
(d) 2 * (2 * (len("01")))

⇒2*4
⇒8
The type of result is Integer.

Question 30
Write an expression that uses exactly 3 arithmetic operators with integer literals and produces result as 99.
Answer
9 * 10 + 21 % 12

Question 31
Add parentheses to the following expression to make the order of evaluation more clear.
y % 4 == 0 and y % 100 != 0 or y % 400 == 0
Answer
((y % 4) == 0) and ((y % 100) != 0) or ((y % 400) == 0)

Question 32
A program runs to completion but gives an incorrect result. What type of error would have caused it?
Answer
Logical errors can make a program run till completion but give incorrect result.

Question 33
In Python, strings are immutable while lists are mutable. What is the difference?
Answer
In Python, strings are immutable means that individual letter assignment for strings is not allowed. For
example:
name='hello'
name[0] = 'p'
The above Python code will cause an error as we are trying to assign some value to an individual letter of a
string.
Lists are mutable in Python means that we can assign values to individual elements of a list. For example:
a = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
a[0] = 10
The above Python code will work correctly without any errors as Lists are mutable in Python.

Question 34
How does the // operator differ from the / operator? Give an example of where // would be needed.
Answer
The Division operator (/) divides its first operand by second operand and always returns the result as a float
value whereas Floor Division operator (//) divides its first operand by second operand and truncates the
fractional part of the result and returns it as an int value. Floor Division operator is useful in situations where
we only need the integer part of the division operation result. For example, to determine how many minutes
are there in some given number of seconds:
secs = 2565
mins = 2565 // 60

Question 35
MidAir Airlines will only allow carry-on bags that are no more than 22 inches long, 14 inches wide, and 9
inches deep. Assuming that variables named length, width, and depth have already been assigned values,
write an expression combining the three that evaluates to True if bag fits within those limits, and False
otherwise.
Answer
length <= 22 and width <= 14 and depth <= 9

Question 36
What are main error types? Which types are most dangerous and why?
Answer
The types of errors are:

1. Compile Time Errors (Syntax errors and Semantic Errors)

2. Runtime Errors
3. Logical Errors
Logical Errors are the most dangerous as they are hardest to prevent, find and fix.

Question 37
Correct any false statements:
(a) Compile-time errors are usually easier to detect and to correct than run-time errors.
(b) Logically errors can usually be detected by the compiler.
Answer
(a) The statement is correct.
(b) The statement is incorrect. The correct statement should be:
Logical errors cannot be detected by the compiler.

Question 38
Differentiate between a syntax error and a semantics error.
Answer
Syntax Error Semantics Error
Syntax errors occurs when the rules of the Semantic errors occur when the
programming language are violated. statement are not meaningful.
Example: Example:
x = false x*y=z

Question 39
Differentiate between a syntax error and a logical error in a python program. When is each type of error
likely to be found?
Answer
Syntax Error Logical Error

Syntax Errors occur when we Logical Errors occur due to

violate the rules of writing the our mistakes in
 Syntax Error Logical Error

statements of the programming

programming logic.
language.

Program compiles and

Program fails to compile and
executes but doesn't give the
execute.
desired output.

Logical errors need to be

Syntax Errors are caught by the found and corrected by
compiler. people working on the
program.
Syntax errors are found at compile type whereas Logical errors are found when the program starts executing.

Question 40
What is the difference between an error and exception?
Answer
An Error is a bug in the code that causes irregular output or stops the program from executing whereas an
Exception is an irregular unexpected situation occurring during execution on which programmer has no
control.