2/7/2022

Python – Functions
M M MAHBUBUL SYEED, PHD. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

Highlights!

• Function – Definition, example.

• Why using Functions??!!

• Function arguments / parameters.

• Function return value.

• Scope of variables - Local and global variables.

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Function
DEFINITION

Function
A function is a block of organized, reusable code that is used to perform a single, related action /
task.

 Functions provide better modularity for your application and a high degree of code reusing.

 Built-in functions in Python: print(), input(), type(), bin(), and many many more ….

 User-defined functions: you can define a function as per the need.

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Function - Syntax
Function blocks begin with the keyword def Function Passing inputs / parameters (Any
name input parameters) to the function

The code block within

def functionname ( parameters ):
every function starts with a
colon (:)
"function_docstring"

function_suite
[Optional] the documentation
return [expression] string of the function

The code block inside

function must be indented
Returning value from
function when it ends
[Optional]

Function - Example
def functionname ( parameters ):

"function_docstring"

function_suite

return [expression]

def addition(num1, num2):

"This function adds two numbers and returns the value"

num1 = int(num1)

num2 = int(num2)

result = num1 + num2

return result

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Function – Calling a function

def addition(num1, num2):

"This function adds two numbers and returns the value"
Function named “addition”
result = int(num1) + int(num2)
return result

n1 = input('Enter number1:')
n2 = input('Enter number2:')
Outside of the function body
res = addition(n1,n2)
print('Result is: ', res)

Function – Calling a function

def addition(num1, num2):

"This function adds two numbers and returns the value"
Function named “addition” 4
result = int(num1) + int(num2)
return result
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1
Program execution starts here n1 = input('Enter number1:')
2 n2 = input('Enter number2:')
3 4
Call ‘addition’ function with res = addition(n1,n2)
parameters 6 print('Result is: ', res)

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Function – Calling a function

1 def printInfo(num1, num2):
2 print(f'We are adding {num1} and {num2}..’)
3 return
4 def addition(num1, num2):
5 "This function adds two numbers and returns the value"
6 result = int(num1) + int(num2)
Can u explain
7 return result
8 the code??
9 n1 = input('Enter number1:')
10 n2 = input('Enter number2:')
11 printInfo(n1,n2)
12 res = addition(n1,n2)
13 print('Result is: ', res)

Why using
Functions??

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Functions provide a couple of benefits:

 Reusability - Functions allow the same piece of code to run multiple times

 Modularity - Functions break long programs up into smaller components

 Portability - Functions can be shared and used by other programmers

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Why using Functions??

REF: https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/programming-102-think-like-a-computer-scientist/0/steps/53095

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Each unit is a function

Why using Functions?? - Does a specific task.

- Repetitive.
- Takes specific input.
- Process.
- Produce specific output

REF: https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/programming-102-think-like-a-computer-scientist/0/steps/53095

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Each unit is a function

Why using Functions?? Modular - Does a specific task.

- Repetitive.
Reusable
- Takes specific input.
Portable - Process.
- Produce specific output

REF: https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/programming-102-think-like-a-computer-scientist/0/steps/53095

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Why using Functions??

Lets take a very simple programming example now..

You are supposed to add 5 numbers.. Taking two numbers at a time and adding them..

How this problem can be coded!!?

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Why using Functions??

You are supposed to add 5 numbers.. Taking two numbers at a time and adding them..

n1 = input('number: ')
n2 = input('number: ')

add = int(n1) + int(n2)

n3 = input('number: ')
add += int(n3)

n4 = input('number: ') Is this a smart solution???

add += int(n4)

n5 = input('number: ')
add += int(n5)

print('Result is: ', add)

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Why using Functions??

You are supposed to add 5 numbers.. Taking two numbers at a time and adding them..

n1 = input('number: ') def getInput():

n2 = input('number: ') n = input('Enter number: ')
return int(n)
add = int(n1) + int(n2)

n3 = input('number: ') def addnumber(n1, n2):

add += int(n3) return n1+n2

n4 = input('number: ') add = addnumber(getInput(), getInput())

add += int(n4)
add = addnumber(add, getInput())
n5 = input('number: ') add = addnumber(add, getInput())
add += int(n5) add = addnumber(add, getInput())
print('Result is: ', add)
print('Result is: ', add)

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Passing inputs / parameters (Any

input parameters) to the function

Function
Arguments /
def functionname ( parameters ):

"function_docstring"

Parameters function_suite

return [expression]

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Function Arguments / Parameters

You can call a function by using the following types of formal arguments-
 Required arguments
 Keyword arguments
 Default arguments
 Variable-length arguments

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Required arguments
Required arguments are the arguments passed to a function in correct positional order.
The number of arguments in the function call should match exactly with the function definition.

def printme( str, name ):

"This prints a passed string into this function"
line 7, in <module>
print (str , name)
printme()
return TypeError: printme() missing 2 required positional
arguments: 'str' and 'name'
# Now you can call printme function line 8, in <module>
printme() printme()
TypeError: printme() missing 1 required positional
printme("This is me with name") arguments: 'name'
printme('This is me, ', 'My name is Rajit.')
What about this call??

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Keyword arguments
Keyword arguments are related to the function calls.
When use keyword arguments in a function call, the caller identifies the arguments by the parameter
name.

def printinfo( name, age ):

"This prints a passed info into this function"
print ("Name: ", name)
print ("Age ", age)
return

# Now you can call printinfo function

printinfo( age=50, name="miki" ) Keyword argument!
printinfo(age=50, "miki" )
Produce Error!!!
printinfo(age = 30)

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Default arguments
A default argument is an argument that assumes a default value if a value is not provided in the
function call for that argument.

def printinfo( name = 'Rajit', age = 35):

"This prints a passed info into this function"
print ("Name: ", name)
print ("Age ", age)
return
Name: miki
Age 50
# Now you can call printinfo function Name: Samah
Age 35
printinfo( age=50, name="miki" )
Name: Rajit
printinfo( name = 'Samah') Age 35
printinfo()

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Variable-length arguments
 Some time we need to pass variable number of arguments to the function.
 These arguments are called variable-length arguments.
 An asterisk (*) is placed before the variable name. It holds the values as tuple.

def printinfo( arg1, *vartuple ):

"This prints a variable passed arguments"
print ('Required argument: ', arg1) Required argument: 70
variable arguments:
print ('variable arguments: ') 60
for var in vartuple: Rajit
print (var) Required argument: 10
return variable arguments:

# Now you can call printinfo function

printinfo( 70, 60, 'Rajit' )
printinfo( 10 )

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def functionname ( parameters ):

"function_docstring"
Function function_suite

return return [expression]

Statement Returning value from

function when it ends
[Optional]

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Function return Statement

 The statement return [expression] exits a function.
 Optionally passing back an expression to the caller.
 A return statement with no arguments is the same as return None.

def printinfo( name = 'Rajit', age = 35):

def func():
"This prints a passed info into this function"
n1 = 20
print ("Name: ", name)
n2 = 'Rajit'
print ("Age ", age)
return [n1,n2]
return

n3 = func()
print(n3[0], n3[1]) # Now you can call printinfo function
printinfo( age=50, name="miki" )

Function func() returns a tuple of values Function printinfo() returns nothing

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Scope of
Variables

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Scope of variable – Global or Local

 Local variable: Variables that are defined inside a function body have a local scope.

 Global Variable: Variables defined outside any function have a global scope.

 Local variables are accessible only inside the function in which they are declared.

 Global variables can be accessed throughout the program body by all functions.

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Scope of variable – Global or Local

 Local variable: Variables that are defined inside a function body have a local scope.

 Global Variable: Variables defined outside any function have a global scope.

def afunction():
n3 = 35 Local Variable
return

def functest():
n1 = 'This is local variable' Local Variable
return

n3 = 'This is global variable' Global Variable

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Scope of variable – Global or Local

def afunction(): Can you trace the output?

n3 = 35
print('local n3 = ', n3)
print('Global (inside function) n2= ', n2)
return
local n3 = 35
Global (inside function) n2= This is global variable

n2 = 'This is global variable' Global (outside function) n2= This is global variable
Traceback (most recent call last): functionargument.py",
afunction()
line 51, in <module>
print('Local of afunction() n3: ', n3)
print('Global (outside function) n2= ', n2)
NameError: name 'n3' is not defined. Did you mean: 'n2'?
print('Local of afunction() n3: ', n3)

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Problem Set!

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1. Write a Python function to find the Max of two numbers.

2. Write a Python function to check whether a number falls in a given range. The function will
take 3 numbers as input, first one the number to be checked, 2nd and 3rd number for range.

3. Write a Python function that takes a number as a parameter and check whether it is even or
odd.

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Suppose you have started working on an hourly basis as a librarian in your institution. You want to know how
much you will earn a month given that you know how many hours you will work per week and how much you
receive per hour. However, whatever amount you earn per month will have 20% of it deducted and that
amount will be instead used to pay part of your tuition fees. Write a program that finds out the earnings before
and after the deduction. Also find out the yearly earnings (without deduction) and how much of your tuition
fees you are paying yourself annually. Assume that there are 4 weeks per month.

Enter the number of hours you will work per week: 20

Enter the amount you earn per hour: BDT. 150

Monthly earning: BDT. 12000

Monthly earning after deduction: BDT. 9600
Yearly earning: BDT. 144000
Amount paid as tuition fees per year: BDT. 28800

Write a function named calculateEarning() that will calculate the monthly earning, earning after deduction,
yearly earning and amount to be paid as tuition fees.
calculateEarning() function should take weekly hour and earning per hour as parameters.

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