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Lecture 2

The document provides an introduction to algorithms and programming, focusing on Python as a programming language. It covers key concepts such as variables, data types, operators, and input/output functions. Additionally, it highlights the importance of variable declaration, assignment, and the distinction between different programming languages' syntax.

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8 views28 pages

Lecture 2

The document provides an introduction to algorithms and programming, focusing on Python as a programming language. It covers key concepts such as variables, data types, operators, and input/output functions. Additionally, it highlights the importance of variable declaration, assignment, and the distinction between different programming languages' syntax.

Uploaded by

koosmokoele85
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction to Algorithms &

Programming
Steve James
Lecture 2
PYTHON3 DEMO
RECAP
Algorithms
• Individual, well-defined, predictable
instructions (finite).
• Direction of logic flow. Once an instruction is
executed, it passes control to another
instruction.
• Guaranteed to terminate.
Programming Languages
• Lowest level: binary
• Then assembly (mnemonics)
• Then high-level language
– Interpreter converts code to executable
instructions
Python

TYPES, VARIABLES & VALUES


Variable
• Stores information in memory
• Symbolic name (identifier) → some data
(value)

• Not quite mathematical variable: Let 𝑥 = 12𝜋


…
– We wouldn’t say: …
Now let 𝑥 = 𝜋 2
…
Types
• Specifies what kind of data the variable can
hold
• Depending on language, vars may have a type
– Static vs dynamic typing

• Python variables do not have a type


(dynamic)!
• A single variable can hold any kind of data
Python Data Types
Name Values Allowed Example Literals
Integer Any integer of any size! 0, -1, 2145, 0xa3
Float Real-valued numbers within some range and 1.2, -0.6, .3,
to some precision (~15 decimal places) 1.4e10
Boolean True or false values only True, False
String Any sequence of characters “T-Pain sucks”,
“Jeff”
Complex* A real and imaginary part of a complex 2+7j
number

See https://realpython.com/python-data-types for more!


Names
• A unique identifier
• Starts with a letter or underscore; contains letters,
digits, and underscores
• Case-sensitive
• Users can’t define names that are taken as keywords
Choose meaningful names
– Abbreviations and acronyms can confuse people
– Short names can be meaningful
– Don’t use overly long names
• Lower-case with words separated by underscores
preferable e.g. total_amount
Reserved Keywords for Python3

False None True and as


assert break class continue def
del elif else except finally
for from import in is
lambda nonlocal not or pass
raise return try while with
yield

DIFFERENT LANGUAGES HAVE DIFFERENT KEYWORDS


Declaration/Assignment
• For variables, need value and name
• Assign name to a value
meaning_of_life = 42
y = 2.45824406892
some_name = "Pogba's Haircuts"
• Uses equal sign; LHS names value of RHS

Not mathematical equals


Assignment
• Use equal sign; LHS set to the value of RHS

x = 42
y = 23
x = y
y = 17
All Together Now
a = 7 a: 7
b = 9 d gets a’s value
c = "?" If a changes, d b: 9
x = 1.2 stays the same
d = a c: 1 | “?”
s1 = "Hello world"
d = a + b x: 1.2
s2 = "1.2"
s1 = 91 d: 7

s1: 11 | “Hello world”

d: 16

s2: 3 | “1.2”

s1: 91
Finally
• Must declare a variable before we use it

x = y + 2 # WTF is y?!
y = 20 # Too late! We needed it for the previous line

These are comments


Python

ARITHMETIC OPERATORS
Operators
• Use operators to perform basic calculations
– Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division,
modulus
x = 8
y = 7
20 + 3 # 23
x - y # 1
5 * 10 # 50
9 / 2 # 4.5
9 % 2 # 1
DANGER!!!
• In Python3, 9 / 2 gives 4.5
• In Python2, 9 / 2 gives 4
• In C++, 9 / 2 gives 4

• This is called integer division!

• In Python3, use 9 // 2 which gives 4


Mathematical Functions
• Python provides set of built-in functions

pow(2, 4) # or equivalently 2**4 = 16


abs(-16) # 16
round(2.929489384) # 3

See https://docs.python.org/3/library/functions.html for more!


Rules of Precedence
• Operators have precedence (like BODMAS)
Precedence Operator Evaluation
Operation
Level /Symbol Direction
0 (first) () parentheses Inner ones
evaluated first
Left-to-right
1 ** exponentiation Groups right-to-
left
2 (unary) - negation (unary minus) Right-to-left
3 *, /, % product, division, Left-to-right
modulus
4 +, - addition, subtraction Left-to-right
Question
• What is:
6 // 4 + −9 % 3 ∗ 2 / −100 ∗ −3 − −(17∗5)

…
…
=86.0

When in doubt, use brackets/simplify!


Python

BASIC INPUT/OUTPUT
Input and Output
• We want our programs to be flexible
– e.g. find a student’s marks given their student
number
• So we need to be able to accept input from
users and display the results!

• Input is done with input()


• Output is done with print()
Input
• input() reads in a string from the user.
– Returns when the user enters a new line

line = input()

• If we don’t want a string, we must cast it

points_total = int(input())
average_score = float(input())
Prompting
• Warning: do not do this for automatically
marked submissions!

• We can be polite and inform the user what we


want them to input

print("Please enter your password and press Enter")


password = input()
Output
• print() displays something on the screen

print("Hello world")
x = 23
print(x)

• We can also print multiple values on the same


line

print("The best number is", 42)


A Note on Submissions
Submissions are marked by output only

Bad Good
print("Please enter an integer:")
x = int(input())
print("The number you entered was", x)
x = int(input())
print(x)

I enter 42.
I enter 42.
Produces output
Produces output

Please enter an integer


42
The number you entered was 42

WRONG! CORRECT!
Example
• Calculate amount after adding VAT

vat = 0.15
print("Enter amount:")
prevat = float(input()

postvat = prevat * (1 + vat)


print("The amount including VAT is", postvat)

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