exercises.md

Introduction to Python

NaLette Brodnax

Workshop Exercises

Part 1: Introduction

1. Complete the one-minute poll at bit.ly/dsspoll

Part 2: Getting the Tools

1. After installing Python, open the Python IDE (such as Spyder or IDLE) on your machine. Type the following into the interpreter:

   print('Hello, world.')

2. Create a file named hello.py. You will add code to this script throughout Parts 2 and 3 of the workshop. On the first two lines, type the following:

   # My first Python script
   print('Hello, world.')
   

   Save the script and run it from the IDE.

Part 3: Programming Basics

1. The following code uses operators that have special meanings in Python. Add the following statements to your hello.py script. Predict what the output will be before running the script.

   Statement	Prediction
   movie = 'Rogue One'	N/A
   print(movie)
   i = 1
   i += 1
   print(i)
   print('A' + 'B')
   print('me'*3)
   print('a' == 'a')
   print('a' == 1)
   print(5 != 25/5)

2. The following code demonstrates some of the different ways to reference the elements of a sequence. Add the following statements to your hello.py script. Predict what the output will be before running the script.

   Statement	Prediction
   mystring = 'happy'	N/A
   print(mystring[0])
   print(mystring[2:4])
   mylist = ['Leia', 'Rey', 'Maz']	N/A
   print(mylist[-1])
   mydict = {'name': 'Kylo', 'side': 'dark'}	N/A
   print(mydict['name'])

3. Add the following code to your hello.py script, giving special attention to indentation. Experiment with modifying the code. For example, what happens if you indent the print statement on the last line?

   name = 'Grace Hopper'
   
   if len(name) < 20:
       print('Yes')
   else:
       print('No')
   
   i = 0
   for letter in name:
       if letter in ['a', 'e', 'i', 'o', 'u']:
           i = i + 1
   print(name + ' has ' + str(i) + ' vowels.')
   
   i = 0
   vowel_count = 0
   while i < len(name):
       if name[i] in ['a', 'e', 'i', 'o', 'u']:
           vowel_count = vowel_count + 1
       i = i + 1
   print(name + ' has ' + str(vowel_count) + ' vowels.')

4. Add the following code to your hello.py script. Predict how my_string will be displayed before running the script. Using triple quotes, add an informative documentation string to the say_hello() function. Try entering different types of data (text, numbers, etc.) as the argument for the function. How does Python respond?

   my_string = 'aBcDe'
   print(my_string)
   print(my_string.lower())
   
   
   def say_hello(name_string):
       print('Hello, ' + str(name_string) + '!')
       return None
   
   say_hello('NaLette')

Click here to download the code for all exercises.