Python From Scratch
Python Math & JSON
Lesson 16 Content
• Python Math
• Built-in Math Functions
• The Math Module
• Python - Math Exercises
• JSON in Python
• Parse JSON - Convert from JSON to Python
• Convert from Python to JSON
• Format the Result
• Order the Result
• Python - JSON Exercises
Python Math
Python has a set of built-in math functions, including an extensive math module, that allows you to
perform mathematical tasks on numbers.
Built-in Math Functions
The min() and max() functions can be used to find the lowest or highest value in an iterable:
Example
x = min(5, 10, 25)
y = max(5, 10, 25)
print(x)
print(y)
The abs() function returns the absolute (positive) value of the specified number:
Example
x = abs(-7.25)
print(x)
The pow(x, y) function returns the value of x to the power of y (xy).
Example
Return the value of 4 to the power of 3 (same as 4 * 4 * 4):
x = pow(4, 3)
print(x)
The Math Module
Python has also a built-in module called math, which extends the list of mathematical functions.
To use it, you must import the math module:
import math
When you have imported the math module, you can start using methods and constants of the module.
The math.sqrt() method for example, returns the square root of a number:
Example
import math
x = math.sqrt(64)
print(x)
The math.ceil() method rounds a number upwards to its nearest integer, and the math.floor() method
rounds a number downwards to its nearest integer, and returns the result:
Example
import math
x = math.ceil(1.4)
y = math.floor(1.4)
print(x) # returns 2
print(y) # returns 1
The math.pi constant, returns the value of PI (3.14...):
Example
import math
x = math.pi
print(x)
Python JSON
JSON is a syntax for storing and exchanging data.
JSON is text, written with JavaScript object notation.
JSON in Python
Python has a built-in package called json, which can be used to work with JSON data.
Example
Import the json module:
import json
Parse JSON - Convert from JSON to Python
If you have a JSON string, you can parse it by using the json.loads() method.
The result will be a Python dictionary.
Example
Convert from JSON to Python:
import json
# some JSON:
x = '{ "name":"John", "age":30, "city":"New York"}'
# parse x:
y = json.loads(x)
# the result is a Python dictionary:
print(y["age"])
Convert from Python to JSON
If you have a Python object, you can convert it into a JSON string by using the json.dumps() method.
Example
Convert from Python to JSON:
import json
# a Python object (dict):
x = {
"name": "John",
"age": 30,
"city": "New York"
}
# convert into JSON:
y = json.dumps(x)
# the result is a JSON string:
print(y)
You can convert Python objects of the following types, into JSON strings:
• dict
• list
• tuple
• string
• int
• float
• True
• False
• None
Example
Convert Python objects into JSON strings, and print the values:
import json
print(json.dumps({"name": "John", "age": 30}))
print(json.dumps(["apple", "bananas"]))
print(json.dumps(("apple", "bananas")))
print(json.dumps("hello"))
print(json.dumps(42))
print(json.dumps(31.76))
print(json.dumps(True))
print(json.dumps(False))
print(json.dumps(None))
When you convert from Python to JSON, Python objects are converted into the JSON (JavaScript)
equivalent:
Python JSON
dict Object
list Array
tuple Array
str String
int Number
float Number
True true
False false
None null
Example
Convert a Python object containing all the legal data types:
import json
x = {
"name": "John",
"age": 30,
"married": True,
"divorced": False,
"children": ("Ann","Billy"),
"pets": None,
"cars": [
{"model": "BMW 230", "mpg": 27.5},
{"model": "Ford Edge", "mpg": 24.1}
]
}
print(json.dumps(x))
Format the Result
The example above prints a JSON string, but it is not very easy to read, with no indentations and line
breaks.
The json.dumps() method has parameters to make it easier to read the result:
Example
Use the indent parameter to define the numbers of indents:
json.dumps(x, indent=4)
You can also define the separators, default value is (", ", ": "), which means using a comma and a space
to separate each object, and a colon and a space to separate keys from values:
Example
Use the separators parameter to change the default separator:
json.dumps(x, indent=4, separators=(". ", " = "))
Order the Result
The json.dumps() method has parameters to order the keys in the result:
Example
Use the sort_keys parameter to specify if the result should be sorted or not:
json.dumps(x, indent=4, sort_keys=True)
