Python Programming:
An Introduction to
Computer Science
Chapter 1
Computers and Programs
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Objectives
To understand the respective roles
of hardware and software in a
computing system.
To learn what computer scientists
study and the techniques that they
use.
To understand the basic design of a
modern computer.
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Objectives (cont.)
To understand the form and
function of computer programming
languages.
To begin using the Python
programming language.
To learn about chaotic models and
their implications for computing.
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The Universal Machine
A modern computer can be defined
as a machine that stores and
manipulates information under the
control of a changeable program.
Two key elements:
Computers are devices for
manipulating information.
Computers operate under the control
of a changeable program.
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The Universal Machine
What is a computer program?
A detailed, step-by-step set of
instructions telling a computer what to
do.
If we change the program, the
computer performs a different set of
actions or a different task.
The machine stays the same, but the
program changes!
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The Universal Machine
Programs are executed, or carried
out.
All computers have the same
power, with suitable programming,
i.e. each computer can do the
things any other computer can do.
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Program Power
Software (programs) rule the
hardware (the physical machine).
The process of creating this software
is called programming.
Why learn to program?
Fundamental part of computer science
Having an understanding of programming
helps you have an understanding of the
strengths and limitations of computers.
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Program Power
Helps you become a more intelligent
user of computers
It can be fun!
Form of expression
Helps the development of problem
solving skills, especially in analyzing
complex systems by reducing them to
interactions between simpler systems.
Programmers are in great demand!
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What is Computer
Science?
It is not the study of computers!
Computers are to computer science
what telescopes are to astronomy.
E. Dijkstra
The question becomes, What
processes can be described?
This question is really, What can be
computed?
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What is Computer
Science?
Design
One way to show a particular problem
can be solved is to actually design a
solution.
This is done by developing an
algorithm, a step-by-step process for
achieving the desired result.
One problem it can only answer in the
positive. You cant prove a negative!
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What is Computer
Science?
Analysis
Analysis is the process of examining
algorithms and problems
mathematically.
Some seemingly simple problems are
not solvable by any algorithm. These
problems are said to be unsolveable.
Problems can be intractable if they
would take too long or take too much
memory to be of practical value.
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What is Computer
Science?
Experimentation
Some problems are too complex for
analysis.
Implement a system and then study
its behavior.
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Hardware Basics
The central processing unit (CPU)
is the brain of a computer.
The CPU carries out all the basic
operations on the data.
Examples: simple arithmetic
operations, testing to see if two
numbers are equal.
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Hardware Basics
Memory stores programs and data.
CPU can only directly access
information stored in main memory
(RAM or Random Access Memory).
Main memory is fast, but volatile, i.e.
when the power is interrupted, the
contents of memory are lost.
Secondary memory provides more
permanent storage: magnetic (hard
drive, floppy), optical (CD, DVD)
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Hardware Basics
Input devices
Information is passed to the computer
through keyboards, mice, etc.
Output devices
Processed information is presented to
the user through the monitor, printer,
etc.
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Hardware Basics
Fetch-Execute Cycle
First instruction retrieved from memory
Decode the instruction to see what it
represents
Appropriate action carried out.
Next instruction fetched, decoded, and
executed.
Lather, rinse, repeat!
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Programming Languages
Natural language has ambiguity and
imprecision problems when used to
describe complex algorithms.
Programs expressed in an unambiguous ,
precise way using programming
languages.
Every structure in programming language
has a precise form, called its syntax
Every structure in programming language
has a precise meaning, called its
semantics.
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Programming Languages
Programming language like a code
for writing the instructions the
computer will follow.
Programmers will often refer to their
program as computer code.
Process of writing an algorithm in a
programming language often called
coding.
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Programming Languages
High-level computer languages
Designed to be used and understood
by humans
Low-level language
Computer hardware can only
understand a very low level language
known as machine language
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Programming Languages
Add two numbers:
Load the number from memory location
2001 into the CPU
Load the number from memory location
2002 into the CPU
Add the two numbers in the CPU
Store the result into location 2003
In reality, these low-level instructions
are represented in binary (1s and 0s)
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Programming Languages
High-level language
c=a+b
This needs to be translated into
machine language that the
computer can execute.
Compilers convert programs written
in a high-level language into the
machine language of some
computer.
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Programming Languages
Interpreters simulate a computer that
understands a high-level language.
The source program is not translated
into machine language all at once.
An interpreter analyzes and executes
the source code instruction by
instruction.
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Programming Languages
Compiling vs. Interpreting
Once program is compiled, it can be
executed over and over without the
source code or compiler. If it is
interpreted, the source code and
interpreter are needed each time the
program runs
Compiled programs generally run
faster since the translation of the
source code happens only once.
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Programming Languages
Interpreted languages are part of a
more flexible programming
environment since they can be
developed and run interactively
Interpreted programs are more
portable, meaning the executable code
produced from a compiler for a Pentium
wont run on a Mac, without
recompiling. If a suitable interpreter
already exists, the interpreted code can
be run with no modifications.
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The Magic of Python
When you start Python, you will see
something like:
Python 2.3.3 (#51, Dec 18 2003, 20:22:39) [MSC v.1200 32 bit (Intel)] on win32
Type "copyright", "credits" or "license()" for more information.
****************************************************************
Personal firewall software may warn about the connection IDLE
makes to its subprocess using this computer's internal loopback
interface. This connection is not visible on any external
interface and no data is sent to or received from the Internet.
****************************************************************
IDLE 1.0.2
>>>
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The Magic of Python
The >>> is a Python prompt indicating
that Python is ready for us to give it a
command. These commands are called
statements.
>>> print "Hello, world"
Hello, world
>>> print 2+3
5
>>> print "2+3=", 2+3
2+3= 5
>>>
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The Magic of Python
Usually we want to execute several
statements together that solve a
common problem. One way to do
this is to use a function.
>>> def hello():
print "Hello"
print "Computers are Fun"
>>>
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The Magic of Python
>>> def hello():
print "Hello"
print "Computers are Fun"
>>>
The first line tells Python we are
defining a new function called hello.
The following lines are indented to show
that they are part of the hello function.
The blank line (hit enter twice) lets
Python know the definition is finished.
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The Magic of Python
>>> def hello():
print "Hello"
print "Computers are Fun"
>>>
Notice that nothing has happened yet!
Weve defined the function, but we
havent told Python to perform the
function!
A function is invoked by typing its name.
>>> hello()
Hello
Computers are Fun
>>>
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The Magic of Python
Whats the deal with the ()s?
Commands can have changeable
parts called parameters that are
placed between the ()s.
>>> def greet(person):
print "Hello",person
print "How are you?
>>>
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The Magic of Python
>>> greet("Terry")
Hello Terry
How are you?
>>> greet("Paula")
Hello Paula
How are you?
>>>
When we use parameters, we can
customize the output of our
function.
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The Magic of Python
When we exit the Python prompt, the
functions weve defined cease to exist!
Programs are usually composed of
functions, modules, or scripts that are
saved on disk so that they can be used
again and again.
A module file is a text file created in text
editing software (saved as plain text)
that contains function definitions.
A programming environment is
designed toPython
help
programmers write 32
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The Magic of Python
# File: chaos.py
# A simple program illustrating chaotic behavior
def main():
print "This program illustrates a chaotic function"
x = input("Enter a number between 0 and 1: ")
for i in range(10):
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print x
main()
Well use filename.py when we save our
work to indicate its a Python program.
In this code were defining a new
function called main.
The main() at the end tells Python to
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run the code.
The Magic of Python
>>>
This program illustrates a chaotic function
Enter a number between 0 and 1: .5
0.975
0.0950625
0.335499922266
0.869464925259
0.442633109113
0.962165255337
0.141972779362
0.4750843862
0.972578927537
0.104009713267
>>>
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Inside a Python Program
# File: chaos.py
# A simple program illustrating chaotic behavior
Lines that start with # are called
comments
Intended for human readers and
ignored by Python
Python skips text from # to end of
line
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Inside a Python Program
def main():
Beginning of the definition of a
function called main
Since our program has only this one
module, it could have been written
without the main function.
The use of main is customary,
however.
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Inside a Python Program
print "This program illustrates a chaotic function"
This line causes Python to print a
message introducing the program.
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Inside a Python Program
x = input("Enter a number between 0 and 1: ")
x is an example of a variable
A variable is used to assign a name
to a value so that we can refer to it
later.
The quoted information is
displayed, and whatever the user
types in response is stored in x.
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Inside a Python Program
for i in range(10):
For is a loop construct
A loop tells Python to repeat the
same thing over and over.
In this example, the following code
will be repeated 10 times.
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Inside a Python Program
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print x
These lines are the body of the loop.
The body of the loop is what gets
repeated each time through the loop.
The body of the loop is identified through
indentation.
The effect of the loop is the same as
repeating this two lines 10 times!
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Inside a Python Program
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
for i in range(10):
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print x
print x
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print x
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print x
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print x
These are
equivalent!
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print x
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print x
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print x
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print x
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print x
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print x
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Inside a Python Program
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
This is called an assignment statement
The part on the right-hand side (RHS) of
the = is a mathematical expression.
* is used to indicate multiplication
Once the value on the RHS is computed,
it is stored back into (assigned) into x
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Inside a Python Program
main()
This last line tells Python to
execute the code in the function
main
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Chaos and Computers
The chaos.py program:
def main():
print "This program illustrates a chaotic function"
x = input("Enter a number between 0 and 1: ")
for i in range(10):
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print x
main()
For any given input, returns 10
seemingly random numbers between
0 and 1
It appears that the value of x is
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chaotic
44
Chaos and Computers
The function computed by program has
k ( x)(1 x)
the general form
where k is
3.9
This type of function is known as a
logistic function.
Models certain kinds of unstable
electronic circuits.
Very small differences in initial value
can have large differences in the output.
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Chaos and Computers
Input: 0.25
0.73125
0.76644140625
0.698135010439
0.82189581879
0.570894019197
0.955398748364
0.166186721954
0.540417912062
0.9686289303
0.118509010176
Input: 0.26
0.75036
0.73054749456
0.767706625733
0.6954993339
0.825942040734
0.560670965721
0.960644232282
0.147446875935
0.490254549376
0.974629602149
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