CS25C02 Computer Programming: Python

Introduction to Python: Problem Solving, Problem Analysis

Chart, Developing an Algorithm, Flowchart and Pseudocode,
Interactive and Script Mode, Indentation, Comments, Error
messages, Variables, Reserved Words, Data Types,
Arithmetic operators and expressions, Built-in Functions,
Importing from Packages.
Practical: Problem Analysis Chart, Flowchart and Pseudocode
Practices. (Minimum three)

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PROGRAM
set of instructions which is run by the computer to perform
specific task. The task of developing program is called
programming.

COMPUTATIONAL PROBLEM SOLVING

providing logic for solving a problem
1. Algorithms
2. Flowcharts.
3. Pseudo codes.
4. Programs

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 ALGORITHM
 Sequence of instructions

 Method for solving a problem

 Step by step procedure for solving a problem

 Ordered, Unambiguous and Finite in number

1.3.1 Properties of Algorithms

Written in simple English

Accurate and explicit

Instructions should not be repeated infinitely.

Conclude after a finite number of steps.

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 Derived results should be obtained only after the algorithm
terminates.

Qualities of a good algorithm

Time –lesser time is required then it is the better one

Memory –lesser memory is required then it is the better

Accuracy – Multiple algorithms may provide suitable or

correct solutions to a given problem, suitable.

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 Algorithm Example:
Write an algorithm to print, “Welcome to python world”
• Step 1: Start
• Step 2: Print “Welcome to python world”
• Step 3: Stop

• Step 1: Start Step 2: get a,b

• Step 3: calculate c=a+b Step 4: Print c
• Step 5: Stop

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 FLOW CHART
The solution of any problem in picture form is
called flowchart. It is the one of the most
important technique to depict an

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 Flow Chart
• Example: Write an algorithm to check whether the person
is eligible to vote? Step 1: Start
• Step 2: Get age
• Step 3: if age >= 18 print “Eligible to vote” Step 4: else print
“Not eligible to vote”
• Step 6: Stop

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Example: Algorithm for addition of two numbers using function

Main function()
• Step 1: Start
• Step 2: Call the function add()
• Step 3: Stop
sub function add()
• Step 1: Function start
• Step 2: Get a, b Values
• Step 3: add c=a+b
• Step 4: Print c Step 5: Return

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 Advantages of flowchart:

1. Easy Communication: - Flowcharts are better way

of communicating the logic of a system to all

involved.

2. Effective analysis: - With the help of flowchart, problem

can be analyzed in more effective way.

3. Efficient Coding: - The flowcharts act as a guide or

blueprint during the systems analysis and program

development phase.
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4. Efficient Program Maintenance: - The maintenance of

operating program becomes easy with the help of flowchart.

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 Advantages of flowchart:
• It helps the programmer to put efforts more efficiently on

that part.

• Documentation: - Program flowcharts serve as a

good program documentation, which is needed for

various purposes.

• Debugging: - The flowchart helps in debugging process.

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 Disadvantages of flow chart:
• Complex logic: - Sometimes, the program logic is quite
complicated. In that case, flowchart becomes complex
and uncoordinated.

• Alterations and Modifications: - If alterations are required

the flowchart may require re-drawing completely.

• Reproduction: - As the flowchart symbols cannot be typed,

reproduction of flowchart becomes a problem.

• Cost: For large application the time and cost of

flowchart drawing becomes costly.
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 PSEUDO
consists of short, readable and English languages used by an
algorithm.

does not include details like variable declaration, subroutines.

It is easier for the programmer or non programmer to

understand the general working of the program, because it is
not based on any programming language.

It gives us the sketch of the program before actual coding.

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 PSEUDO

It is not a machine readable

Pseudo code can’t be compiled and executed.

There is no standard syntax for pseudo code.

Guidelines for writing pseudo code
• Write one statement per line
• Capitalize initial keyword
• Indent to hierarchy
• End multiline structure
• Keep statements language independent
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 Syntax for if else:

IF (condition)THEN statement
... ELSE
statement
... ENDIF

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 Advantages:

Pseudo is independent of any language; it can be used by most

programmers.

It is easy to translate pseudo code into a programming

language.

It can be easily modified as compared to flowchart.

Converting a pseudo code to programming language is very

easy as compared with converting a flowchart to
programming language.
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 Disadvantages

It does not provide visual representation of the program’s

logic.

There are no accepted standards for writing pseudo codes.

It cannot be compiled nor executed.

For a beginner, it is more difficult to follow the logic or write

pseudo code as compared to flowchart.

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 COMPARE: ALGORITHM,
FLOWCHART AND PSEUDO CODE

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 Interactive Mode:
• Direct Interaction:
• In interactive mode, users interact directly with the Python
interpreter, entering one command or a small block of code
at a time.
Script Mode:
File-Based Execution:
In script mode, Python code is written and saved in a text file
with a .py extension (e.g., my_script.py).

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 Indentation:
• which statements belong to a particular code block, such as
the body of a function, a loop (e.g., for or while), a
conditional statement (e.g., if, elif, else), or a class definition.
• Syntax Requirement
• Code Block Definition
• Consistency
• Readability
• Convention

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 Comments
Single-line Comments
Multi-line Comments (using multiple single-line comments)

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 Uses of
• Code Explanation:

To clarify complex logic, algorithms, or the purpose of specific

code sections.

• Documentation:

To describe the functionality of functions, classes, modules, and

methods (especially using docstrings).

• Debugging:

To temporarily disable sections of code during testing or

troubleshooting without deleting them.
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 Uses of
• Readability:

To make code more understandable for yourself and other

developers who might read or maintain it in the future.

• Collaboration:

To facilitate understanding and communication within a

development team.

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 Error
• Exceptions, provide information about issues
encountered during program execution

• crucial for debugging and identifying problems in code

• Syntax Error: Occurs when the Python interpreter

encounters invalid syntax (e.g., missing colons, unclosed
parentheses,
incorrect indentation)
• Indentation Error: A specific type of Syntax Error

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 Error
• Name Error: Raised when a variable or function is used
before it has been defined.
• Type Error: inappropriate data type (e.g., trying to add a string
and an integer directly).
• Value Error: Raised when a function receives an argument
of the correct type but an inappropriate value (e.g., trying to
convert a non-numeric string to an integer).

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 Error
• Python error messages, also known as exceptions,
provide information about issues encountered during
program execution. These messages are crucial for
debugging and identifying problems in code.
• Common Types of Python Errors:
• SyntaxError: Occurs when the Python interpreter
encounters invalid syntax (e.g., missing colons, unclosed
parentheses, incorrect indentation).
• IndentationError: A specific type of SyntaxError related to
incorrect or inconsistent indentation, which is significant
in Python.

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 Error
• Value Error: Raised when a function receives an argument
of the correct type but an inappropriate value (e.g., trying to
convert a non-numeric string to an integer).
• Index Error: Occurs when attempting to access an index
that is out of range for a sequence like a list or tuple.
• Key Error: Raised when trying to access a key in a
dictionary that does not exist.
• Attribute Error: Occurs when attempting to access
an attribute or method that does not exist for an
object.
• File Not Found Error: Raised when a program tries to open
a file that does not exist at the specified path.
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 Error
• Zero Division Error: Occurs when attempting to divide a

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 Built-in
Type Conversion:

• int(): Converts a value to an integer.

• float(): Converts a value to a floating-point number.

• str(): Converts a value to a string.

• list(), tuple(), dict(), set(): Convert or create

respective collection types.

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 Built-in
• Mathematical Operations:

• abs(): Returns the absolute value of a number.

• sum(): Returns the sum of all items in an iterable.

• min(), max(): Return the minimum and maximum values

from an iterable.

• round(): Rounds a number to a specified number of decimal

places.

• pow(): Returns the result of a number raised to a power.

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 Built-in
Iterables and Iterators:

• len(): Returns the length (number of items) of an object.

• range(): Generates a sequence of numbers.

• enumerate(): Adds a counter to an iterable.

• sorted(): Returns a new sorted list from an iterable.

• reversed(): Returns a reversed iterator.

• all(), any(): Check if all or any elements in an iterable are true.

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 Built-in
Input/Output and System:

• print(): Prints objects to the console.

• input(): Takes input from the user.

• help(): Invokes the built-in help system for objects.

• type(): Returns the type of an object.

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 Variables

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 Reserved
• Also nown as keywords, are special words that have
predefined meanings and functionalities within the
language. These words cannot be used as identifiers (e.g.,
variable names, function names, class names) because doing
so would conflict with their inherent purpose in Python's
syntax.

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Reserved

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 Common keywords used
in
• //: This keyword used to represent a comment.
• BEGIN, END: Begin is the first statement and end is the
last statement.
• INPUT, GET, READ: The keyword is used to inputting data.
• COMPUTE, CALCULATE: used for calculation of the result
of the given expression.
• ADD, SUBTRACT, INITIALIZE used for addition, subtraction and
initialization.
• OUTPUT, PRINT, DISPLAY: It is used to display the output of
the program.

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 Common keywords used
in
• IF, ELSE, ENDIF: used to make decision.
• WHILE, ENDWHILE: used for iterative statements.
• FOR, ENDFOR: Used for iterations (
incremented/decremented automatically)
Example: Greatest of two numbers
BEGIN READ a,b
IF (a>b) THEN
DISPLAY a is greater ELSE
DISPLAY b is greater END IF
END

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 Primary Data Types
categorized into five types:
1) Integer type (int)
2) Floating point type (float)
3) Double precision floating point type (double)
4) Character type (char)
5) void type (void)
The words in parentheses indicate the keyword used in C to
indicate the data type.

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Arithmetic operators
expressions

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 Arithmetic operators
1-Arithmetic Operators: expressions

2- Assignment Operators:

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 Arithmetic operators
3- expression
Comparison Operators:

4- Logical Operators:

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 Arithmetic operators
5- Bitwise Operators: expressions

6- Identity Operators:

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 Arithmetic operators
expressions
7. Membership Operators:

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 Built-in functions
• collection of pre-defined functions that are always available
for use without needing to import any modules. They provide
fundamental functionalities for common operations and tasks
within the language

Importing from Packages

• Allows for the organization and reuse of code across multiple
files and projects

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 Importing from Packages
Importing the entire package
entire package, making its modules and sub-packages accessible
using dot notation
(e.g., package_name.module_name.function())

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