Cairo University

Faculty of Graduate Studies for Statistical Research

Department of Computer and Information Sciences

Computer Sys. And Programming

Lec. 4 outline: You’ll find all the information you need here on
Overview of Programming, Basic Program Elements, What Are
Computer and Computing?, An Algorithm Is, Automation, What Is a
Program?, Why Python?, Developing Python Programs, Basic
Elements: Data, ….and

Tarek Aly
01126182476
http://41.32.221.109:8080/DrTarekAly.htm
E-mail: tarekmmmmt@{pg.cu.edu.eg; egyptpost.org; gmail.com; yahoo.com}
Contents
 Overview of Programming
 Basic Program Elements  Library Functions
 What Are Computer and  Library Variables
Computing?
 Variables and
 An Algorithm Is Assignment
 Automation  The docstring
 What Is a Program?  import Statements
 Why Python?  Evaluating Expressions
 Developing Python Programs  Type Conversion
 Basic Elements: Data Functions
 Basic Operations: Arithmetic  Composing Expressions
 Built-In Functions  Getting Help on a
Function

10/2/2023 Computer Sys. And Programming

What Are Computer and
Computing?
 The study of computers (concrete artifacts)
and their uses

 The study of computing (abstract

processes)

 The study of what can be computed

(automated solutions to problems or
Computer Science)
An Algorithm Is . . .
 A description of a series of steps that
leads to the solution of a problem

 Examples:
 Make a pizza from scratch
 Give directions to the soccer field
 Change a flat tire on an automobile
Example: Make Pancakes
1. Beat two eggs
2. Add 2 Tb. brown sugar
3. Add 1/2 cup of milk
4. Add 1 Tb. melted butter
5. Add 1 cup self-rising flour
6. Pour batter onto griddle and cook
until done
Automation
 If we can design an algorithm to
solve a problem . . .

 . . . then we can (in principle) build a

real computer to automate the
solution
What Is a Program?

A program is like an algorithm, but describes

a process that is ready or can be made ready
to run on a real computer

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Why Python?
Real-world advantages Pedagogical advantages
Relating to the methods and theory of teaching

 Systems programming  Very simple syntax

 Graphical user  Highly interactive
interfaces  Easy to learn and use
 Internet scripting  Extensive libraries of
 Component integration high-level resources
 Database programming  Completely portable,
 Rapid prototyping free, and open source
 Widespread user
(programmer)
community

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Obtaining Python
 Python was invented by Guido van
Rossum in 1992

 Python comes with most Unix-based

computer systems

 Python for Windows or any other

operating system can be downloaded
from http://www.python.org/

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Developing Python Programs
 Can experiment with small pieces
interactively in shell mode

 Can compose longer segments with

an editor and run them in script mode

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Evaluating Python Expressions
in Shell Mode

Read an expression Evaluate it Print the result

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Basic Elements: Data
 Numbers
 Integers: 3, 77
 Floats: 3.14, .22

 Strings: ‘Hi there!’, “Hi there!”, ‘\n’

 Truth values (Booleans): True, False

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 Basic Operations: Arithmetic
Symbol Meaning Example
+ Addition or concatenation x+y
- Subtraction x-y
* Multiplication x*y
/ or // Division x / y or x // y
% Remainder x%y
** Exponentiation x ** y
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Built-In Functions
 A function is an operation that expects
zero or more data values (arguments)
from its user and computes and returns
a single data value

 Examples:

abs(-5)

max(33, 66)

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Library Functions
 A library is a collection of resources, including
functions, that can be imported for use in a
program

 Example:

import math

math.sqrt(2)

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Variables and Assignment
 Variables are used to name data and other resources

 Instead of typing 3.14 for π, define a variable named pi

to mean 3.14

 Assignment (=) is used to set (or reset) a variable to a

value

pi = 3.14

34 * 34 * pi

 Variables make programs more readable and

maintainable
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Library Variables
 Typically define standard constants, such as pi and e

 Example:

import math

3 * math.pi

 Or:

from math import pi

3 * pi

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Script Mode
 Longer programs can be edited and saved to a file and
then run as scripts (synonymous with programs)

 IDLE is a script-mode development environment that can

be used on any computer system

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Developing a Python Script

IDLE editor
Python source code

Python compiler
Byte code

Inputs from user Python Virtual Machine (PVM)

Outputs to user

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Terminal-Based Programs
 A terminal allows a user to
 run a program
 view output as text on a screen or in a
window
 enter input as text from the keyboard

 Early computer systems were entirely

terminal-based, modern systems
have added a GUI (graphical user
interface)
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Structure of Terminal-Based
Programs

Inputs Computations Outputs

docstring

import statements

input statements

computation statements

output statements

Program code goes in a file with a .py extension.

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The docstring
"""
Author: Ken Lambert
This program does nothing
yet, but just you wait!
"""

Not evaluated, but used to document Python

programs for other programmers

Should appear at the beginning of each file

Just as important as the evaluated code!!!

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import Statements
import math

print(math.pi)
print(math.sqrt(2))

Imports usually occur before the beginning of

the executable program code

They make available resources from other

Python modules

A module is just a file of Python code

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import Statements
from math import pi

print(pi)

Alternatively, one can import particular

resources from a given module and then omit
the module qualifier from the reference

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import Statements
from math import *

print(pi)
print(sqrt(2))

Or, one can import all the particular resources

from a given module and then omit the module
qualifier from all the references

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Input of Text
input('Enter your name: ')

The input function prints its string argument

and waits for user input.

The function then returns the string of

characters entered at the keyboard.

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Input of Numbers
int(input('Enter your age: '))

When an integer is expected, you must convert

the input string to an int.

float(input('Enter your hourly wage: '))

When a real number (with a decimal point) is

expected, you must convert the input string to a
float.

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Simple Assignment Statements
name = input('Enter your name: ')

income = float(input('Enter your income: '))

The = operator evaluates the expression to its

right and sets the variable to its left to the
resulting value.

We use variables to retain data for further use.

Note: = does not mean equals in Python!

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Syntax Template for
Simple Assignment
<variable> = <expression>

A syntax template expresses a grammar rule in

a language.

The angle brackets enclose the names of

phrases or terms that are defined by other rules.

area = math.pi * radius ** 2

century = 100
squarerootof2 = math.sqrt(2)
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More on Variables
firstname = input('Enter your first name: ')

Any variable can name any thing.

Variables must begin with a letter or the _ character.

They can contain any number of letters, digits, or _.

Variables cannot contain spaces.

Python is case-sensitive. Use lowercase letters for now.

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Variable References
x = 10 # x begins as 10
x = x + 1 # x is reset to 11
y = y + x # Error! Can't find value of y

When Python sees a variable in an expression, it must

be able to look up its value.

If a variable has no established value, the program

halts with an error message.

Variables are given values by assignment statements

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End of Line Comments
x = 10 # x begins as 10
x = x + 1 # x is reset to 11
y = y + x # Error! Can't find value of y

# begins an end of line comment - Python ignores text

from # to the end of line

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Evaluating Expressions
print(totalincome - deduction * rate)

print((totalincome - deduction) * rate)

print(10 + x * y ** 2)

Expressions are evaluated left to right, unless operator

precedence overrides this order.

Use parentheses to override standard precedence when

necessary.
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Mixed-Mode Arithmetic
print(5 * 100) # Prints 500

print(5 * 100.0) # Prints 500.0

The value of an expression depends on the types of its

operands.

In general, two ints produce an int, whereas at least

one float produces a float.

Exception: x / y always produces a float.

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Type Conversion Functions
str(3.72) # Returns'3.72'

float('3.72') # Returns 3.72

int(3.72) # Returns 3

float(3) # Returns 3.0

Each data type has a function to convert values of

some other types to values of that type.

int truncates a float by removing the fractional part.

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Rounding and Precision
round(3.72) # Returns 4

round(3.72, 1) # Returns 3.7

round(3.729, 2) # Returns 3.73

round’s optional second argument specifies the

number of digits of precision in the fractional part

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Using Functions
round(3.72) # Returns 4

abs(-5) # Returns 5

math.sqrt(2) # Returns 1.4142135623730951

<function name>(<any arguments>)

A function can have one or more required arguments

and/or some optional arguments

Arguments must be of the appropriate types

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Composing Expressions
squareofa = a ** 2
squareofb = b ** 2
sumofsquares = squareofa + squareofb
c = math.sqrt(sumofsquares)
print('The hypotenuse is', c)

Use assignment to name the results of computations

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Composing Expressions
squareofa = a ** 2
squareofb = b ** 2
sumofsquares = squareofa + squareofb
c = math.sqrt(sumofsquares)
print('The hypotenuse is', c)

Use assignment to name the results of computations

c = math.sqrt(a ** 2 + b ** 2)
print('The hypotenuse is', c)

Or just compose the expression and pass it as an

argument to the function
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Getting the Directory of a Module

>>> import math

>>> dir(math)
['__doc__', '__file__', '__name__', 'acos', 'asin',
'atan', 'atan2', 'ceil', 'cos', 'cosh', 'degrees',
'e', 'exp', 'fabs', 'floor', 'fmod', 'frexp',
'hypot', 'ldexp', 'log', 'log10', 'modf', 'pi',
'pow', 'radians', 'sin', 'sinh', 'sqrt', 'tan',
'tanh']

>>>
The dir function returns a list of all of the named
components in a module
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Getting Help on a Function
>>> import math

>>> dir(math)
['__doc__', '__file__', '__name__', 'acos',
'asin', 'atan', 'atan2', 'ceil', 'cos', 'cosh',
'degrees', 'e', 'exp', 'fabs', 'floor', 'fmod',
'frexp', 'hypot', 'ldexp', 'log', 'log10', 'modf',
'pi', 'pow', 'radians', 'sin', 'sinh', 'sqrt',
'tan', 'tanh']

>>> help(math.sqrt)
sqrt(x)

Return the square root of x.

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 Output
print(3, 4) # displays 3 4

print(str(3) + str(4)) # displays 34

print('Hello there\nKen!') # displays two lines

print('Hello there ', end = '') # displays one line

print('Ken')

print always ends output with a newline, unless its

last argument is end = ''

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Thank You

Let's get started!

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