Functions in Python Class 11 Notes

A complex programme can be broken down into smaller programmes by using

functions, and these smaller programmes, known as modules, make the
programme easier to understand. A function is a piece of code that only
executes when called.

Once defined, a function can be used again throughout the programme without
requiring the user to write out the entire code for it each time. It can also be used
inside of other functions by simply writing the function name and the necessary
parameters.

The Advantages of Function

1. Increases readability, particularly for longer code as by using functions,
the program is better organised and easy to understand.
2. Reduces code length as same code is not required to be written at multiple
places in a program. This also makes debugging easier.
3. Increases reusability, as function can be called from another function or
another program. Thus, we can reuse or build upon already defined
functions and avoid repetitions of writing the same piece of code.
4. Work can be easily divided among team members and completed in
parallel.
Type of Function
There are two types of function in python.

1. User – Define Function

2. Built – in – Function
The Python language includes built-in functions such as dir, len, and abs. The
def keyword is used to create functions that are user specified.

Functions in Python Class 11 Notes

User – Define Function

User-defined functions are the fundamental building block of any programme

and are essential for modularity and code reuse because they allow
programmers to write their own function with function name that the computer
can use.

Creating User Defined Function

A function definition begins with def (short for define). The syntax for creating
a user defined function is as follows –

Syntax –

def function_name(parameter1, parameter2, …) :

statement_1
statement_2
statement_3
….

 The items enclosed in “[ ]” are called parameters and they are optional.
Hence, a function may or may not have parameters. Also, a function may
or may not return a value.
 Function header always ends with a colon (:).
 Function name should be unique. Rules for naming identifiers also applies
for function naming.
 The statements outside the function indentation are not considered as part
of the function.
Q. Write a user defined function to add 2 numbers and display their sum.

#Program
#Function to add two numbers
def addnum():
fnum = int(input(“Enter first number: “))
snum = int(input(“Enter second number: “))
sum = fnum + snum
print(“The sum of “,fnum,”and “,snum,”is “,sum)
#function call
addnum()

Output:
Enter first number: 5
Enter second number: 6
The sum of 5 and 6 is 11

Functions in Python Class 11 Notes

Arguments and Parameters

User-defined function could potentially take values when it is called. A value

received in the matching parameter specified in the function header and sent to
the function as an argument is known as an argument.

Q. Write a program using a user defined function that displays sum of first
n natural numbers, where n is passed as an argument.

#Program
#Program to find the sum of first n natural numbers
def sumSquares(n):
sum = 0
for i in range(1,n+1):
sum = sum + i
print(“The sum of first”,n,”natural numbers is: “,sum)
num = int(input(“Enter the value for n: “))
sumSquares(num) #function call

Q. Write a program using a user defined function myMean() to calculate

the mean of floating values stored in a list.

#Program 7-6
#Function to calculate mean
def myMean(myList):
total = 0
count = 0
for i in myList:
total = total + i
count = count + 1
mean = total/count
print(“The calculated mean is:”,mean)
myList = [1.3,2.4,3.5,6.9]
myMean(myList)

Output:
The calculated mean is: 3.5250000000000004

Functions in Python Class 11 Notes

Q. Write a program using a user defined function calcFact() to calculate

and display the factorial of a number num passed as an argument.

#Program 7-7
#Function to calculate factorial
def calcFact(num):
fact = 1
for i in range(num,0,-1):
fact = fact * i
print(“Factorial of”,num,”is”,fact)
num = int(input(“Enter the number: “))
calcFact(num)

Output:
Enter the number: 5
Factorial of 5 is 120

String as Parameters

Some programmes may require the user to supply string values as an argument.

Functions in Python Class 11 Notes

Q. Write a program using a user defined function that accepts the first
name and lastname as arguments, concatenate them to get full name and
displays the output as:
#Program
#Function to display full name
def fullname(first,last):
fullname = first + ” ” + last
print(“Hello”,fullname)
first = input(“Enter first name: “)
last = input(“Enter last name: “)
fullname(first,last)

Output:
Enter first name: Gyan
Enter last name: Vardhan
Hello Gyan Vardhan

Functions in Python Class 11 Notes

Default Parameter

The argument can be given a default value in Python. When a function call
doesn’t have its appropriate argument, a default value is chosen in advance and
given to the parameter.

Q. Write a program that accepts numerator and denominator of a

fractional number and calls a user defined function mixedFraction() when
the fraction formed is not a proper fraction. The default value of
denominator is 1. The function displays a mixed fraction only if the fraction
formed by the parameters does not evaluate to a whole number.

#Program
#Function to display mixed fraction for an improper fraction
def mixedFraction(num,deno = 1):
remainder = num % deno
if remainder!= 0:
quotient = int(num/deno)
print(“The mixed fraction=”, quotient,”(“,remainder, “/”,deno,”)”)
else:
print(“The given fraction evaluates to a whole number”)
num = int(input(“Enter the numerator: “))
deno = int(input(“Enter the denominator: “))
print(“You entered:”,num,”/”,deno)
if num > deno:
mixedFraction(num,deno)
else:
print(“It is a proper fraction”)

Output:
Enter the numerator: 17
Enter the denominator: 2
You entered: 17 / 2
The mixed fraction = 8 ( 1 / 2 )

Functions in Python Class 11 Notes

Functions Returning Value

The function’s values are returned using the return statement. A function that
has finished its duty will return a value to the script or function that called it.

The return statement does the following –

 returns the control to the calling function.

 return value(s) or None.
Q. Write a program using user defined function calcPow() that accepts base
and exponent as arguments and returns the value Baseexponent where
Base and exponent are integers.

#Program
#Function to calculate and display base raised to the power exponent
def calcpow(number,power):
result = 1
for i in range(1,power+1):
result = result * number
return result
base = int(input(“Enter the value for the Base: “))
expo = int(input(“Enter the value for the Exponent: “))
answer = calcpow(base,expo)
print(base,”raised to the power”,expo,”is”,answer)

Output:
Enter the value for the Base: 5
Enter the value for the Exponent: 4
5 raised to the power 4 is 625

Flow of Execution

The first statement in a programme is where the Python interpreter begins to

carry out the instructions. As they read from top to bottom, the statements are
carried out one at a time.
The statements contained in a function definition are not executed by the
interpreter until the function is called.

Scope of a Variable

An internal function variable can’t be accessed from the outside. There is a well
defined accessibility for each variable. The scope of a variable is the area of the
programme that the variable is accessible from. A variable may fall under either
of the two scopes listed below:
A variable with a global scope is referred to as a global variable, whereas one
with a local scope is referred to as a local variable.

Global Variable – A variable that is defined in Python outside of any function

or block is referred to as a global variable. It is accessible from any functions
defined afterward.

Local Variable – A local variable is one that is declared inside any function or
block. Only the function or block where it is defined can access it.

Functions in Python Class 11 Notes

Built-in functions

The pre-made Python functions that are widely used in programmes are known
as built-in functions. Let’s examine the subsequent Python programme –
#Program to calculate square of a number
a = int(input(“Enter a number: “)
b=a*a
print(” The square of “,a ,”is”, b)

In the programme mentioned above, the built-in functions input(), int(), and
print() are used. The Python interpreter already defines the set of instructions
that must be followed in order to use these built-in functions.

Commonly used built-in functions

 Functions in Python Class 11 Notes

Module
The Python standard library includes a number of modules. A module is a
collection of functions, whereas a function is a collection of instructions.
suppose we have created some functions in a program and we want to
reuse them in another program. In that case, we can save those functions under a
module and reuse them. A module is created as a python (.py) file containing a
collection of function definitions.

To use a module, we need to import the module. Once we import a module, we

can directly use all the functions
of that module. The syntax of import statement is as follows:
import modulename1 [,modulename2, …]

Built-in Modules

Let’s examine a few widely used modules and the functions that are contained
in such modules:

Module name : math

 Functions in Python Class 11 Notes

Module name : random

Functions in Python Class 11 Notes

Module name : statistics