CS115

INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMING IN
PYTHON

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 CS 115 – Finding Information
1. Course Management System (Moodle)
◦ Weekly Course Outline
◦ Course Information
◦ Lecture Notes and Code Examples
2. Course Information
◦ Assessments and their weights
3. Weekly Course Outline
◦ Lab dates
◦ Weekly topic outline

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 Lab sessions
There are 10 lab sessions this semester.
During each lab session you will complete a lab assignment. Lab assignments
must be completed individually.
Teaching assistants and undergraduate tutors will be present for the entire lab
session.
You must attend the lab sessions and meet with the TA at the end of the lab
session to receive a grade.
The teaching assistants will check and grade your assignment. They may ask
questions about your code, ask you to make changes, etc.
There are no make-ups for lab sessions even with a medical report or special
permission, however your lab average will be calculated by discarding your
lowest lab grade.

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Python Language and Modules
In class the exercises and examples will use the most recent version
of Python from the Anaconda distribution (currently 3.9).
We will cover additional packages not included with standard
Python, which are:
◦ numpy: package for scientific computing in Python.
◦ matplotlib: comprehensive library for creating static,
animated, and interactive visualizations in Python.

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 Recommended Software
For the course, we recommend the Anaconda Individual Python 3.9 distribution.

Anaconda contains:
○ Python: a programming language in which we write computer programs.
○ Python packages: For scientific computing and computational modelling, we need
additional libraries (packages) that are not part of the Python standard library.
These allow us to create plots, operate on matrices, and use specialized numerical
methods. Eg. numpy, pyplot, etc.
○ Spyder: The name SPyDER derives from "Scientific Python Development
EnviRonment" (SPYDER). It is an integrated development environment (IDE) for the
Python language with advanced editing, interactive testing, debugging features.
○ Jupyter Notebook: an alternative tool to develop open-source software, open-
standards, and services for interactive computing across many programming
languages.

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Note about Software for CS115
We recommend the Anaconda distribution for ease of use.
It comes bundled with the Jupyter and Spyder development environments
as well as the additional modules we will use in the course.
You are free to use a development environment of your choice on your
own computer, as there are many good (possibly better) development
environments.
If you choose a different development environment, you still should be
familiar with Spyder and Jupyter for use in the labs.

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Outline
Problem Solving

Program Development and Programming

Languages

The Python Programming Language

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 Problem Solving
The purpose of writing a program is to solve a problem
Solving a problem consists of multiple activities:
◦ Understand the problem
◦ Design a solution
◦ Consider alternatives and refine the solution
◦ Implement the solution
◦ Test the solution
These activities are not purely linear – they overlap and interact

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 Algorithms
Steps used to solve a problem.
The steps in an algorithm should be precisely defined and the ordering of
the steps is very important.
An algorithm defines:
o sequence of simple steps.
o flow of control process that specifies when each step is executed.
o a means of determining when to stop.
Algorithms are language independent; one solution can be implemented
in any programming language.
Techniques used to develop algorithms (flowcharts, pseudocode).

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Flowcharts and Pseudocode
Example: A program that asks the user their name then says ‘Hello [Name]’:

Pseudo code: Flowchart: a diagrammatic

an ordered version of your code representation of a solution
written for human understanding
rather than machine understanding.
1. Input name
2. Output ‘hello [name]’

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Outline
Problem Solving

Program Development and Programming

Languages

The Python Programming Language

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 Computer Programs
The mechanics of developing a program include several activities:
o writing the program in a specific programming language (such as Python)
o translating the program into a form that the computer can execute
o investigating and fixing various types of errors that can occur

Software tools can be used to help with all parts of this process.
Spyder/Jupyter provide tools for all steps in program development.

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Programming Languages
There are hundreds of programming languages, no best or worst
language.
Some languages are better or worse for different applications.
Each programming language has:
o Set of primitive constructs(‘words’): numbers, strings,
operators(+-/)
o A syntax (describes the order of the words)
o Semantics (defines the meaning of the sentences)

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Syntax and Semantics
The syntax rules of a language define how we can put together
symbols, reserved words, and identifiers to make a valid program
The semantics of a program statement define what that statement
means (its purpose or role in a program)
A program that is syntactically correct is not necessarily logically
(semantically) correct
A program will always do what we tell it to do, not what we meant to
tell it to do

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 Errors in Programs
Syntactic errors
◦ common and easily caught
Semantic errors
◦ can cause unpredictable behavior
◦ some languages like Java check for these before running program,
some such as Python do less checking.
◦ code has different meaning than what programmer intended
◦ program crashes, stops running
◦ program runs forever
◦ program gives an answer but different than expected

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Outline
Problem Solving

Program Development and Programming

Languages

The Python Programming Language

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Introduction to Python
General purpose programming language.
Can be used effectively to build almost any type of program.
Advantages:
◦ Relatively simple language.
◦ Easy to learn.
◦ Large number of freely available libraries.
◦ Easy to download and install.
◦ Runs under all operating systems.
Disadvantages:
◦ Because of minimal static semantic checking, not optimal for:
◦ programs that have high reliability constraints (air traffic
control systems, medical device).
◦ large team projects, or extended length projects. ( “too many
cooks spoil the soup”)

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Introduction to Python
Python is an interpreted language versus a compiled language.
In interpreted languages, the sequence of instructions (source code) is
executed directly whereas in compiled languages the source code is first
converted into a sequence of machine code.
Both have advantages and disadvantages.

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Python Programs
A program (script) is a sequence of definitions and commands
o definitions evaluated
o commands executed by Python interpreter

Commands (statements) instruct interpreter to do something.

Commands can be typed directly in a shell or stored in a file that is read
and evaluated by the interpreter.
A new shell is created whenever execution of a program begins.
Usually a window is associated with the shell.

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Shell vs. Script
We can print ‘Hello World’ in two different ways, using
the shell (command line) or using a script(python file).
The print() command prints text to the screen, so the
command print(‘Hello World’) will print the given text
to the console.

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 Built-In Functions
The Python interpreter has a number of functions and types built into it that are always
available.

Complete list of built-in functions.

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 Objects
Programs manipulate data objects.
Objects have a type that defines the kinds of things programs can do to them.
◦ The value 5 can be multiplied, added, etc.
◦ ‘Hello world’ is a string that can be searched, sliced.
◦ Ana is a Student so she can register for courses, calculate her GPA,
etc.
◦ Milo is an Employee, so he can get promoted, resign from his job, etc.
Objects are:
◦ scalar (cannot be subdivided)
◦ non-scalar (have internal structure that can be accessed)

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Scalar Objects
int – represent integers, ex. 5
float – represent real numbers, ex. 3.27
bool – represent Boolean values True and False
NoneType – special and has one value, None
Can use type() to see the type of an object:
◦ type("hello world")
str
◦ type(5)
int
◦ type(3.5)
float
◦ type( True )
bool

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Type Conversion
Sometimes we need to convert data from one type to another. For
example, we may want to find the integer value of 3.2.
We can use built in functions to convert object of one type to another
(type casting)
◦ float(3) converts integer 3 to float 3.0
◦ int(3.9) truncates float 3.9 to integer 3
◦ bool(5) converts non zero values to boolean True
◦ bool(0) converts zero value to boolean False

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Variables
A variable is a name for a location in memory that references
an object and allows us to associate labels with objects.
A variable has three things:
◦ a label : that is how we refer to it
◦ a type : what kind of a thing is stored in the box
◦ a value : what is in the box

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Naming Variables
Variable names in Python must conform to the following rules:
▪ must start with a letter or underscore
▪ can only contain letters, numbers, and the underscore character _
▪ cannot contain spaces
▪ cannot include punctuation
▪ are not enclosed in quotes or brackets

The following names are valid variable names: constant,

new_variable, my2rules , SQUARES

The following are invalid variable names: a constant,

3newVariables,&sum

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Reserved Words
Reserved words are the keywords that have built-in meanings and cannot
be used as variable names.
Each version of Python may have a different keyword list.
To see the list of reserved words in Python you can type the commands:
import keyword
keyword.kwlist

Example list:

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 Binding Variables and Values
(Assignment)
An assignment statement changes the value of a variable
The assignment operator is the = symbol.
Syntax of assignment statement:

value
variableName = variableName
expression

Example:
total = 55

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 CHANGING BINDINGS
In python you can re-bind variable names using new assignment statements.
The previous value may still be stored in memory but the reference to the
value no longer exists.
Value for area does not change until you tell the computer to do the
calculation again.
Example:
pi = 3.14
radius = 2.2
area = pi*(radius**2)
radius = radius+1

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Multiple Assignment
The expressions on the right side of an assignment are evaluated before
any bindings are changed.
Example:
x, y = 2, 3
x, y = y, x
print(‘x=‘, x)
print(‘y=‘, y)

will print:
x = 3
y = 2

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Expressions
Combine objects and operators to form expressions.

Expression has a value, which has a type.

Syntax for a simple expression:

<object> <operator> <object>

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OPERATORS ON ints and floats
i+j -> the sum
i-j -> the difference
i*j -> the product
i/j -> floating point division
i//j -> integer division (value is truncated)
i%j -> the remainder when i is divided by j
i**j -> i to the power of j

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Python Arithmetic Operator
Precedence
The order of evaluation can be changed by using parentheses to group sub-
expressions.
For example: (x + y) * 2, first adds x and y then multiplies the product by 2.
The table below shows the arithmetic operator precedence.

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 Quick Check
What are the results of the following expressions?
12 / 5
12 // 5
10 / 4.0
10 // 4.0
4 / 10
4 // 10
12 % 3
10 % 3
3 % 10
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 Quick Check
What are the results of the following expressions?
12 / 5 = 2.4
12 // 5 = 2
10 / 4.0 = 2.5
10 // 4.0 = 2.0
4 / 10 = 0.4
4 // 10 = 0
12 % 3 = 0
10 % 3 = 1
3 % 10 = 3
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Assignment Operators

• See: 01_assignment.py

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Quick Check
In what order are the operators evaluated in
the following expressions?

a + b + c + d + e a + b * c - d / e

a / (b + c) - d % e

a / (b * (c + (d - e)))

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Quick Check
In what order are the operators evaluated in the
following expressions?
a + b + c + d + e a + b * c - d / e
1 2 3 4 3 1 4 2

a / (b + c) - d % e
2 1 4 3

a / (b * (c + (d - e)))
4 3 2 1

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 Writing Good Code
Coding conventions are used to improve the readability of code and
make it consistent across the wide spectrum of Python versions.

Provide guidelines about the code layout and style.

In this course, we will follow the PEP8 coding conventions.

Examples of conventions:
Use blank lines to indicate logical sections.
Use a single space before and after operators (exceptions exist)

See the PEP8 documentation for the complete list of rules.

Zen of Python: import this
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Comments
Comments explain the purpose and process.
Comments are not interpreted and do not affect program execution.
Python comments can take two forms:
#single line comment
"""
multi-line comment, continues to end
symbol, across line breaks
"""
Comments should describe ‘why’ rather than how.
Multi-line comments are also called docstrings.
Docstrings provide documentation for functions, modules and classes which
we will discuss later.

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 Formatting Strings: f-string
To format numeric or string values, use f-strings

Syntax:
f’string to be formatted’

’string to be formatted’ includes format fields, enclosed in curly

braces {…}

The format fields are used to embed formatted values in the format
string and include special characters that indicate how the values
should be formatted (type of data and how it will be displayed).

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Formatting Strings
salary = 7512.32165
print(f'Your salary is {salary}')

Output:
Your salary is 7512.32165

vs

salary = 7512.32165
print( f'Your salary is {salary:.2f}')

Output:
Your salary is 7512.32

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Format Field:
{variable_index:format_type}
print(f’Your salary is {salary:m.nf}’)

m: places reserved for value, including decimal point.

n: number of decimal places
f: format specifier for float values

print(f’Your age is {age:md}’)

m: places reserved for value
d: format specifier for int values

print(f‘Your name is {name:ms}’)

m: places reserved for value
s: format specifier for string values

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Formatting Example
salary = 7510.2685
age = 32
name = 'Jane'

print(f'Name: {name:10s} Age: {age:05d} Salary: {salary:.2f}')

Output:
Name: Jane Age: 00032 Salary: 7510.27

print(f'Salary and age of {name:s} are {salary:12.3f} {age:5d} ')

Output:
Salary and age of Jane are 7510.269 32

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Exercises
1. Write a program that converts 400oK to Celsius and displays the
formatted result.
2. Write a program that finds the area and perimeter of a circle with the
radius 1.5 cm and display the result. You can assume pi is the constant
value 3.14.
3. Write a program that finds the sum of the first and last digit of some 4-
digit number.
4. Write a program to calculate the number of hours and minutes needed
for a car to travel 500 kilometers at the velocity 110 km/h.
See: 01_exercises.py or 01_exercises.ipynb

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Terms of Use
This presentation was adapted from lecture materials provided in MIT
Introduction to Computer Science and Programming in Python.
Licenced under terms of Creative Commons License.