Python Programming Fundamentals and Practical Exercises
Lecture 1: Program Design
Flowchart and Pseudocode
- Pseudocode: Abbreviated plain English version of actual computer code.
- Symbols used in flowcharts are replaced by English-like statements.
- Allows the programmer to focus on the steps required to solve a problem.
Hierarchy Chart
- Shows the overall program structure.
- Depicts the organization of the program, omitting specific processing logic.
- Describes what each part, or module, of the program does.
- Each module is subdivided into a succession of submodules.
Three Structures
- Sequence structure
- Decision structure
- Repetition/loop structure
Lecture 2: Python Basics and Error Handling
Common math functions: abs(-23), math.ceil(3.0001) (round up), math.floor(3.9999) (round down), round(4.5), random.randint(1, 100).
Type conversion: type(6) (integer), int(2.7) (2), float(2) (2.0).
Three Types of Errors
- Syntax errors: Grammatical and punctuation errors (e.g., extra parentheses, wrong syntax like
;). - Runtime errors: Errors discovered while the program is running (e.g., invalid data input or inaccessible files).
- Logic errors: Occur when a program does not perform as intended (e.g.,
average = (firstNum + secondNum) / 2).
Lecture 3: String Manipulation
Strings are indexed sequences. school = "CityU", school[0] is 'C'.
- Slicing:
str1[2:7],str1[2:],str1[:8]. - Negative Index: Positive Index – Length.
- Methods:
len(),upper(),lower(),count(),capitalize(),title(),rstrip().
Lecture 4: Lists and Tuples
- Lists: Mutable sequences defined with square brackets
[]. - Tuples: Immutable sequences defined with parentheses
(). - Operations:
append(),extend(),del,remove(),clear(),sort(),split(),join().
Lab Exercises
Lab 2: Financial Calculations
Includes Future Value, Present Value, and Ordinary Annuity calculations using user input for interest rates and time periods.
Lab 3: Randomization and Encryption
Includes generating random letters, finding alphabet positions, creating random passwords, and a basic 3-letter Caesar-style cipher.
Lab 4: Advanced List and Tuple Processing
Includes string splitting, nested list manipulation, and paragraph analysis (counting sentences and words).
Lab 5: Conditional Logic
Includes alphabet indexing, grade lookups, and complex tax calculation logic based on salary and marital status.
Lab 6 & 7: Algorithms
Includes finding the largest of three numbers, sorting integers, and leap year validation.