Chapter 5 Getting Started with Python

Chapter 5: Getting Started with Python

5.1 Introduction to Python
Before learning about Python programming language, let us understand what is a programming language
and how it works.
An ordered set of instructions to be executed by a computer to carry out a specific task is called a program,
and the language used to specify this set of instructions to the computer is called a programming language.
Computers understand the language of 0s and 1s, called machine language or low-level language. High-
level programming languages like Python, C++, Visual Basic, PHP, Java are easier for humans to manage.
Python uses an interpreter to convert its instructions into machine language. An interpreter processes the
program statements one by one, translating and executing them until an error is encountered or the whole
program is executed successfully.

5.1.1 Features of Python

• Python is a high-level, free, and open-source language.
• It is an interpreted language, executed by an interpreter.
• Python programs are easy to understand with a clearly defined syntax.
• Python is case-sensitive.
• Python is portable and platform-independent.
• Python has a rich library of predefined functions.
• Python is helpful in web development.
• Python uses indentation for blocks and nested blocks.

5.1.2 Working with Python

To write and run (execute) a Python program, we need to have a Python interpreter installed on our computer
or use any online Python interpreter. (This content is applicable when we work in Python IDLE)
Downloading Python
The latest version of Python 3 is available on the official website: Python.org
Execution Modes
There are two ways to use the Python interpreter: 1. Interactive mode 2. Script mode

1
Interactive Mode
To work in the interactive mode, type a Python statement on the >>> prompt directly. The interpreter
executes the statement and displays the results.
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Script Mode
In the script mode, write a Python program in a file, save it, and then use the interpreter to execute it. Python
scripts are saved as files with the .py extension.

5.2 Python Keywords

Keywords are reserved words with specific meanings to the Python interpreter. Python is case sensitive, so
keywords must be written exactly as defined.
False class finally is return
None continue for lambda try
True def from nonlocal while
and del global not with
as elif if or yield
assert else import pass

break except in raise

5.3 Identifiers
Identifiers are names used to identify a variable, function, or other entities in a program. Rules for naming
an identifier in Python are:
• The name should begin with an uppercase or a lowercase alphabet or an underscore _.
• It can be of any length.
• It should not be a keyword or reserved word.
• Special symbols like !, @, #, $, %, etc., are not allowed.
Example:

Cell In[2], line 5

1marks, mark$2, avg#
^
SyntaxError: invalid decimal literal

5.4 Variables
A variable in Python refers to an object that is stored in memory. Variable declaration is implicit, meaning
variables are automatically declared when assigned a value.
Example:
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5.5 Comments
Comments are used to add a remark or a note in the source code. They are not executed by the interpreter.
In Python, a comment starts with #.
Example:

5.6 Everything is an Object

Python treats every value or data item as an object, meaning it can be assigned to some variable or passed
to a function as an argument.

5.7 Data Types

Every value belongs to a specific data type in Python. Data type identifies the type of data values a variable
can hold and the operations that can be performed.
Numeric Data Types
Type/Class Description Examples
int Integer numbers –12, –3, 0, 125, 2
float Real or floating point numbers –2.04, 4.0, 14.23
complex Complex numbers 3 + 4j, 2 – 2j
Boolean Data Type
Boolean data type consists of two constants: True and False. Boolean True value is non-zero, non-null, and
non-empty. Boolean False is the value zero.
Example:
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Sequence Data Types

A Python sequence is an ordered collection of items, where each item is indexed by an integer.
• String: A group of characters enclosed in single or double quotation marks.

• List: A sequence of items separated by commas and enclosed in square brackets [].

• Tuple: A sequence of items separated by commas and enclosed in parentheses ().

Set Data Type

Set is an unordered collection of items separated by commas and enclosed in curly brackets {}.

Dictionary
Dictionary in Python holds data items in key-value pairs. Items in a dictionary are enclosed in curly brackets
{ }. Dictionaries permit faster access to data. Every key is separated from its value using a colon (:) sign.
The key: value pairs of a dictionary can be accessed using the key. The keys are usually strings and their
values can be any data type. In order to access any value in the dictionary, we have to specify its key in
square brackets [ ].
[ ]: dict1 = {'Fruit':'Apple','Climate':'Cold', 'Price(kg)':120}
print(dict1['Price(kg)'])
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5.8 Operators
Operators are special symbols in Python that carry out arithmetic or logical computation. The value that the
operator operates on is called the operand.
Arithmetic Operators
Operator Description Example
+ Addition x+y
- Subtraction x-y
* Multiplication x*y
/ Division x/y
% Modulus x%y
** Exponentiation x ** y
// Floor division x // y
Example:

60
3.75
3
5062
5
3
Comparison Operators
Operator Example
== Equal to x == y
!= Not equal to x != y
OperatorDescription Example
> Greater than x>y
< Less than x<y
>= Greater than or equal to x >= y
<= Less than or equal to x <= y
Example:
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Fals
e
True
Fals
e
True
Logical Operators
Operator Description Example
and True if both operands are true x and y
or True if either operand is true x or y
not True if operand is false not x
Example:

Assignment Operators

Operator Description Example

= Assigns value of right side to left side x=5

Operator Description Example
+= Adds right side to left side and assigns to x += 5
left
-= Subtracts right side from left side and x -= 5
assigns to left
*= Multiplies left side by right side and x *= 5
assigns to left
/= Divides left side by right side and assigns x /= 5
to left
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%= Takes modulus using two operands and x %= 5

assigns to left
//= Floor division on operands and assigns x //= 5
to left
**= Exponent on operands and assigns to left x **= 5

Example:

Identity Operators

Operator Description Example

is Evaluates True if the variables on num1 is num2
either side of the operator point
towards the same memory location
and False otherwise.var1 is var2
results to True if id(var1) is equal to
id(var2)
Operator Description Example

is not Evaluates to False if the variables on num1 is not num2

either side of the operator point to the
same emory location and True
otherwise. var1 is not var2 results to
True if id(var1) is not equal to id(var2)

Example:
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Membership Operator
Operator Description Example
in Returns True if the variable/value is found lst = [1,2,3,4], 1 in lst
in the specified sequence and False
otherwise
not in Returns True if the variable/value is not 2 not in lst
found in the specified sequence and False
otherwise
Example:

5.9 Expressions
Expressions are combinations of values, variables, operators, and function calls that are interpreted and
evaluated by the Python interpreter to produce a result.
Example:

5.10 Statements
A statement is an instruction that the Python interpreter can execute. We have already seen the assignment
statement. Some other types of statements that we’ll see include if statements, while statements, and
for statements.
Example:
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5.11 Input and Output

Interacting with the end use to get input to produce desired result with input statement. In python, We have
input() function to get input from the user. This function always returns a string value. To print output, we
use print() function.
Example:

5.12 Type Conversion

Type conversion refers to the conversion of one data type to another. There are two types of type conversion:
implicit and explicit.
Example:

5.13 Debugging
Debugging is the process of finding and fixing errors in the code.
Example:
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Exercises
1. Write a program to enter two integers and perform all arithmetic operations on them.

[ ]:
2. Write a program to swap two numbers using a third variable.

[ ]:
3. Write a program to swap two numbers without using a third variable.

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4. Write a program to find the average of three numbers. 5. The volume of a sphere with radius r is

( 𝜋𝑟3)
. Write a Python program to find the volume of spheres with radius 7cm, 12cm, 16cm, respectively.

[ ]:
6. Write a program that asks the user to enter their name and age. Print a message addressed to the user
that tells the user the year in which they will turn 100 years old.

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7. The formula
(𝐸 = 𝑚𝑐2
) states that the equivalent energy (E) can be calculated as the mass (m) multiplied by the speed of
light
(𝑐 = 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡(3𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠108)𝑚/𝑠)
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squared. Write a program that accepts the mass of an object and determines its energy.

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8. Presume that a ladder is put upright against a wall. Let variables length and angle store the length of
the ladder and the angle that it forms with the ground as it leans against the wall. Write a Python
program to compute the height reached by the ladder on the wall for the following values of length
and angle:
• a) 16 feet and 75 degrees
• b) 20 feet and 0 degrees
• c) 24 feet and 45 degrees
• d) 24 feet and 80 degrees

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