knitr::opts_chunk$set(error = TRUE)

## Error in reticulate::use_python(python = "/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.8/bin/python3.8", : Specified version of python '/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.8/bin/python3.8' does not exist.

Notes on PY4E Chapter 2

These notes follow chapter 2 of the text closely. They are intended to be used in a hands-on manner, not just read. You should read each section of the text before working through the corresponding section of these notes. Make sure that you have python running to experiment. It would be best to create a Jupyter notebook to run code and make your own notes.

2.1 Values and Types

Read the text section then proceed.

Types?

What are the three types described in this chapter and how are they distinguished? Use the type() function to examine a constant value of each type.

Answer

The three types are:

str
int
float

A constant of type str is enclosed in quotes, either single or double.

A constant of type int contains numbers but no decimal point. It must not contain commas.

A constant of type float contains numbers and a decimal point.

Check an str value for type.

Answer

type("245")

## <class 'str'>

type("Hello Julius")

## <class 'str'>

Check an integer value for type.

Answer

type(124)

## <class 'int'>

type(-756)

## <class 'int'>

Leading zero

What happens if an integer begins with zero?

Answer

# type(09)
# Try this in jupyter I can\'t do it here since it will stop my show

Comma’s

Is 1,000,000 a valid integer?

Answer

# Try the following line in jupyter
# type(1,000,000)

If I let it run here, it stops the show. Note that python does allow you to break up integers with “_” instead of commas.

type(1_000_000)

## <class 'int'>

Check a float value for type

type(12.45)

## <class 'float'>

type(-1.5)

## <class 'float'>

type(.32)

## <class 'float'>

type(0.32)

## <class 'float'>

Section 2.2 Variables

Read Section 2.2 in the text.

Copy the definitions of variable and assignment statement from the text to your notebook.

Exercise

Use assignment statements to assign values of each of our current types to named variables. Use any names you want. Then use the type function to investigate each.

Answer

Tom = 1
Dick = 1.5
Harry = "2"

What is the type of Tom?

type(Tom)

## <class 'int'>

What is the type of Dick?

type(Dick)

## <class 'float'>

What is the type of Harry?

type(Harry)

## <class 'str'>

What is the type of tom?

# type(tom)
# Of course I can't

Run this in jupyter What happens? Why

Changing the type

Sometimes you need an int value, but the data is in a str. The function int() will accept a string and return an int if the string is a valid int value.

Example:

a_string = "25"
print(type(a_string))

## <class 'str'>

print(a_string)

## 25

print()

an_int = int(a_string)
print(type(an_int))

## <class 'int'>

print(an_int)

## 25

What happens if the string is not a valid integer?

Answer

a_string = "25."
print(type(a_string))
# an_int = int(a_string) Run in Cocalc

## <class 'str'>

2.3 Variable Names and Keywords

A legal python variable name contains letters, numbers and underscores. It must not begin with a number. It must not be one of the reserved words listed in this section.

Exercise: In jupyter try several different ways to break these and observe how python reacts.

Answer

Here are some obvious bad names.

my.book
my-book
can’t
joe@stmartin.edu
23skidoo
lambda
yield

2.4 Statements

Read the section

Write a command statement.

Answer

print(3.4)

## [1] 3.4

Now write an assignment statement.

Answer

x = 3.4

Note that an assignment does not cause python to display the result.

2.5 Operators and Operands

The usual binary operators are mostly as in Excel, with the exception of “^”. In python, exponentiation is represented by “**“.

There is a special version of division for integers.

Exercise: Compute 4/3 and 4//3.

Answer

print(5/2) # Divide as floats

## 2.5

print(5//2) # Divide as integers

## 2

2.6 Expressions

Read the definition of expression in this section and copy it to your notebook.

This section makes a distinction between the use of a python expression with the interpreter as opposed to within a script. How does an expression work in a cell in Cocalc?

2.7 Order of Operations

Read the section. Then predict the values of the following expressions.

2 + 3 * 5
(2 + 3) * 5
2 / 3 / 5
2 / ( 3 / 5)
2 * 3 / 5
-2**2

Answer

print(2 + 3 * 5)

## 17

print((2 + 3) * 5)

## 25

print(2 / 3 / 5)

## 0.13333333333333333

print(2 / ( 3 / 5))

## 3.3333333333333335

print(2 * 3 / 5)

## 1.2

print(-2 ** 2)

## -4

Exercise

Of the following three python expressions, which two are equal?

2 ** 3 ** 5
(2 ** 3) ** 5
2 ** (3 ** 5)

Answer

no_parens = 2 ** 3 ** 5
left_parens = (2 ** 3) ** 5
right_parens = 2 ** (3 ** 5)

print(no_parens)

## 14134776518227074636666380005943348126619871175004951664972849610340958208

print(left_parens)

## 32768

print(right_parens)

## 14134776518227074636666380005943348126619871175004951664972849610340958208

Hmmmm???

2.8 Modulus Operator

Read this section then do the following computations and check your answers in Cocalc.

5 % 2
13 % 5
4 % 2
0 % 2
-5 % 2

Answer

print(5 % 2)

## 1

print(13 % 5)

## 3

print(4 % 2)

## 0

print(0 % 2)

## 0

print(-5 % 2)

## 1

2.9 String Operations

The operators + and * are meaningful for strings.

The symbol + denotes concatenation, placing together.

The symbol * between an integer and a string repeats the string the specified number of times.

Consider the following examples.

"Hello" + "Joe"

## 'HelloJoe'

"Hello" +", " + "Joe"

## 'Hello, Joe'

3 * ("Hello" +", " + "Joe " )

## 'Hello, Joe Hello, Joe Hello, Joe '

"A " + 2 * "Merry " + "Christmas " + "To You"

## 'A Merry Merry Christmas To You'

2.10 The input() function.

This function prints its argument and returns whatever is type by the user in response.

This function always returns a string.

Experiment with the example provided in PY4E using Cocalc.

What happens if the user inputs a float?

Answer

It will fail. See the notes on input() above. Try it in Cocalc to reinforce the point.

How can you get from a string containing a float to a valid integer.

Answer

a_string = "25."
print(type(a_string))

## <class 'str'>

an_int = int(float(a_string)) 

print(an_int)

## 25

print(type(an_int))

## <class 'int'>

2.11 Comments

Most instructors emphasize the need for comments. I go beyond that and push for “literate programming.” When you use Jupyter notebooks, it’s natural to think of yourself as writing a document containing bits of code.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HW29067qVWk is worth watching to get the idea. It also gives you a lot of practical details on using a Jupyter notebook.

2.12 Choosing Mnemonic Variable Names

One point I want to emphasize beyond the usefulness of such variable names is the style of creating multi-word names.

You need to be consistent to avoid constantly checking your spelling. Consider date of birth.

There are multiple conventions:

dateOfBirth
DateOfBirth
date_of_birth.

I want you to follow the third one:

All lower case
Words separated by underscores.

To expand on this, read a bit about PEP 8 at https://realpython.com/python-pep8/

Variables Expressions and Statements

Notes on PY4E Chapter 2

2.1 Values and Types

Types?

Answer

Check an str value for type.

Answer

Check an integer value for type.

Answer

Leading zero

Answer

Comma’s

Answer

Check a float value for type

Section 2.2 Variables

Exercise

Answer

Changing the type

What happens if the string is not a valid integer?

Answer

2.3 Variable Names and Keywords

Answer

2.4 Statements

Answer

Answer

2.5 Operators and Operands

Answer

2.6 Expressions

2.7 Order of Operations

Answer

Exercise

Answer

2.8 Modulus Operator

Answer

2.9 String Operations

2.10 The input() function.

Answer

Answer

2.11 Comments

2.12 Choosing Mnemonic Variable Names