Week 2
Functions are a block of reusable code. You can ‘call’ the function with the appropriate
parameters.
Creating your own functions:
def function name (parameter list):
statements
Python does not actually run the code inside the function, at least not until the function gets
called.
The keyword ‘return’ is used to communicate information to the program that is outside the
function.
- When you use the command ‘return’ in a function, that ends the processing of the
function. Python will continue with the code that needs to be executed after the call
to the function.
- Every line of code in the function that occurs immediately after a return at the same
level of indentation will always be ignored.
Example:
Def square(a):
Return a*a
Print (“this line will never be printed”)
When calling the function, you will only see a * a
- E.g., square(3) returns 9
- And it won’t print the line also defined in the function.
The difference between print() and return:
- The print function can only be used for one purpose, the return function however,
can be used wherever we need the executed number, regardless of whether we need
to display it, use it for a calculation, or assign it to a variable.
Example:
Def return3():
Return 3
Print(2 ** return3())
- This returns 8, as you expect it to do.
Or
Def print3():
Print(3)
Print(2 ** print3())
- This will execute the number 3 and also will give you an error.
The print function actually returns the special value None, which cannot be used in a
calculation
,Type casting
Float() returns a floating-point value. If the parameter holds an integer, it returns
the same value but with .0. if the parameter holds a float, it returns the same
number. If the parameter holds a string which can be interpreted as an integer/float
it returns the interpretation as a float, otherwise it gives you a runtime error.
Int() returns an integer. If the parameter holds an integer, it returns the same
value. If the parameter holds a float, it returns the integer part of a float (float value
rounded down). If the parameter holds a string, and the string contains only digits, it
returns the integer, otherwise it will give a runtime error.
Str() has one parameter and returns a string representation.
Calculations
Abs() 1 numerical parameter. If the value is positive, it will return the value, if it is
negative, it will return the value multiplied by -1.
Max() two or more numerical values. Returns the largest
Min() two or more numerical values. Returns the smallest
Pow() two numerical parameters, returns first to the power of the second.
Pow(-2, 3) -8
Optional third parameter, it will return the value modulo that third parameter.
Round() has a numerical parameter and rounds it to a whole number.
Optional second parameter (which must be an integer). The function will round
the first parameter to the number of decimals specified by the second parameter.
Len() one parameter and returns the length of the parameter.
Mathematical functions from the math module
You call the math module by:
Import math
Or
From math import exp, log, etc.
Exp() gets one numerical parameter and returns e to the power of that parameter.
E is a special mathematical value
Log() gets one numerical parameter and return natural logarithm of that
parameter.
Natural logarithm = value which, when e is raised to the power of that value,
gives the requested parameter.
Log10() gets one numerical parameter and returns the base-10 logarithm of that
parameter
Sqrt() gets one numerical parameter and returns the square root of that
parameter
Random module
Random() get no parameters. Returns a random float in the range [0,1)
(1 excluded)
Randint() gets to parameters (integers), first smaller than, or equal to, the second.
Returns a random integer in the range of the two parameters.
, Seed() initializes the random number generator of Python. If you want a sequence
of random numbers that are always the same for your program, start by calling seed
with a fixed value as parameter, for instance 0.
If you want to re-initialize the random number generator so that it starts
behaving completely randomly again, call seed()
Boolean values
True and false are Boolean values.
- Datatype = bool
Values that are interpreted as false:
False
None
0
“ “ (empty string)
Empty mapping e.g., empty dictionaries
Every other value is interpreted as True.
The most common Boolean expressions are comparisons
Comparisons
<
<=
==
>=
>
!=
Common mistake: using a ‘=’ as comparison operator. This is the assignment operator.
- Python produces a runtime error if you try to use a single ‘=’ to make a comparison.
In operator
The in operator is written as ‘in’.
- You can test if a character or a sequence of characters is part of the string using the
in operator.
opposite of the in operator is the ‘not in’ operator.
Logical operators
And placed between two Boolean expressions. The result is True if both
expressions evaluate to true.
Or placed between two Boolean expressions The result is True if one of the
expressions evaluates to true. Otherwise, false.
Not place in front of a Boolean expression to switch it from true to false or vice
versa.
Be careful with logical operators because combining ‘and’ and ‘or’ might lead to unexpected
results.
- So, instead of writing ‘a and b or c’ you should write (a and b) or c / a and (b or c)
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