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Programming assignments, especially those involving mathematical computations and data manipulations, often appear daunting at first glance. The complexity of these tasks can lead to uncertainty and hesitation, particularly when students encounter new concepts or methods. However, with a structured approach and systematic breakdown of the problem, tackling such Python assignments becomes not only manageable but also rewarding. This blog aims to provide you with a clear framework for approaching programming assignments in Python, focusing on a practical example. Specifically, we will explore the process of reading a list of numbers, performing calculations to find their sum, mean, and standard deviation, and finally presenting these results effectively. This guide will offer the necessary steps and insights to successfully complete your task.
In the realm of programming, breaking down tasks into smaller, more manageable components is a fundamental strategy for success. Each component serves as a building block that contributes to the overall solution. By understanding the problem statement and identifying the key operations required—such as input handling, computation, and output formatting—you can systematically address the assignment's requirements. This approach not only simplifies the task but also enhances your understanding of how different programming concepts integrate to solve real-world problems.
The example assignment provided involves fundamental statistical computations: sum, mean, and standard deviation. These operations are foundational in both programming and data analysis contexts. Learning to execute these calculations programmatically not only sharpens your coding skills but also equips you with valuable tools for future assignments and projects. Python, with its clear syntax and extensive libraries like math for mathematical operations, proves to be an excellent choice for such tasks, enabling concise and efficient implementation of complex algorithms.
Throughout this guide, we will delve into each step of the solution, emphasizing clarity and correctness in coding practices. Understanding how to handle user input, compute mathematical formulas, and present results accurately are essential skills for any programmer. By mastering these techniques, you not only enhance your proficiency in Python programming but also build a strong foundation for tackling a wide range of programming challenges.
By the end of this blog, you will have gained practical insights into solving programming assignments, laying a solid groundwork for future learning and application. Whether you're a beginner seeking to understand the basics or an experienced programmer aiming to refine your skills, this guide aims to empower you with the tools and strategies needed to excel in solving similar programming tasks effectively. Let's embark on this journey to demystify programming assignments and empower your problem-solving capabilities in Python.
The first step in tackling any programming assignment is to thoroughly understand the problem statement. Read the instructions carefully and identify the key tasks required. For instance, in the given example, the assignment requires you to:
Understanding these requirements helps in planning the solution effectively.
Once you understand the problem, the next step is to break it down into smaller, manageable tasks. This modular approach not only simplifies the problem but also makes your code more organized and easier to debug. Here, we can divide the assignment into the following functions:
Let’s dive into writing each function step by step.
The read_data() function is responsible for reading numbers from the user until an empty string is entered. These numbers are then stored in a list.
In this function, we use a while loop to continuously prompt the user for input. If the user enters an empty string, the loop breaks, indicating the end of input. We also include error handling to ensure that only valid integers are added to the list.
Next, the compute_sum(list_of_numbers) function calculates the sum of the numbers in the list.
Python's built-in sum() function makes this task straightforward and efficient.
The compute_mean(list_of_numbers) function calculates the mean by dividing the sum of the numbers by the length of the list.
Here, we reuse the compute_sum() function to get the sum of the numbers, ensuring that our code is modular and reusable.
The compute_sd(list_of_numbers) function calculates the standard deviation, which is a measure of the amount of variation or dispersion in a set of values.
This function calculates the variance by summing the squared differences between each number and the mean, then dividing by the number of observations minus one. The standard deviation is the square root of the variance.
Finally, the display_result(sum, mean, sd) function prints the computed sum, mean, and standard deviation in a formatted manner.
Using formatted strings (f-strings) ensures that the results are displayed with two decimal places, making them easy to read.
With all the functions defined, the final step is to integrate them into a main program. The main() function coordinates the execution of all the individual functions.
In this main function, we call read_data() to get the list of numbers, then sequentially compute the sum, mean, and standard deviation, and finally display the results.
A crucial part of solving programming assignments is debugging and testing your code. Here are some tips to help you debug and test effectively:
Robust programs include error handling to manage unexpected inputs or situations. In our read_data() function, we included a try-except block to handle invalid inputs. Here’s a more detailed example:
This approach ensures that the user is prompted to enter valid numbers, enhancing the robustness of the program.
Good documentation and code comments are essential for making your code understandable to others and to your future self. Use docstrings to describe the purpose and parameters of each function. Inline comments can explain complex or non-obvious parts of the code.
For example:
Once you have a working solution, consider ways to enhance or extend the program. For example, you might add functionality to:
Programming is a skill that improves with practice. Continuously challenge yourself with new assignments and projects to build your problem-solving abilities and coding skills. Explore online resources, coding communities, and tutorials to learn new techniques and best practices.
In conclusion, successfully navigating Python programming assignments requires a methodical approach to problem-solving. Breaking down tasks into manageable components, writing clear and modular code, and diligently testing and debugging are essential steps in crafting robust solutions. By adhering to these principles, you can confidently tackle assignments that involve tasks such as data input handling, mathematical computations like sum and mean calculations, and the calculation of standard deviation. It's crucial to prioritize thorough documentation of your code to ensure clarity for both you and others who may review or use your work. Additionally, embracing a mind-set of continuous learning and improvement is key to advancing your skills as a programmer. Regular practice and exposure to diverse programming challenges will sharpen your abilities and pave the way towards becoming a proficient programmer.
In summary, approaching Python programming assignments effectively hinges on a structured methodology and attention to detail. By following the steps outlined in this blog, you will be well-equipped to tackle a variety of programming tasks with confidence and precision. Remember, each assignment is an opportunity to refine your coding skills and deepen your understanding of Python's capabilities. Embrace challenges as learning opportunities, and always strive for clarity, correctness, and efficiency in your code. With persistence and dedication, you'll build a strong foundation for success in your programming journey.
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I know that "variable assignment" in python is in fact a binding / re-bindign of a name (the variable) to an object.
This brings the question: is it possible to have proper assignment in python, eg make an object equal to another object?
I guess there is no need for that in python:
Inmutable objects cannot be 'assigned to' since they can't be changed
Mutable objects could potentially be assigned to, since they can change, and this could be useful, since you may want to manipulate a copy of dictionary separately from the original one. However, in these cases the python philosophy is to offer a cloning method on the mutable object, so you can bind a copy rather than the original.
So I guess the answer is that there is no assignment in python, the best way to mimic it would be binding to a cloned object
I simply wanted to share the question in case I'm missing something important here
Both Lie Ryan and Sven Marnach answers are good, I guess the overall answer is a mix of both:
For user defined types, use the idiom:
a. dict = dict(b. dict )
(I guess this has problems as well if the assigned class has redefined attribute access methods, but lets not be fussy :))
For mutable built-ins (lists and dicts) use the cloning / copying methods they provide (eg slices, update)
finally inmutable built-ins can't be changed so can't be assigned
I'll choose Lie Ryan because it's an elegant idiom that I hadn't thought of.
I think you are right with your characterization of assignment in Python -- I just would like to add a different method of cloning and ways of assignment in special cases.
"Copy-constructing" a mutable built-in Python object will yield a (shallow) copy of that object:
[ Edit : As pointed out by Paul McGuire in the comments, the behaviour of a "copy contructor" (forgive me the C++ terminology) for a immutable built-in Python object is implementation dependent -- you might get a copy or just the same object. But because the object is immutable anyway, you shouldn't care.]
The copy constructor could be called generically by y = type(x)(x) , but this seems a bit cryptic. And of course, there is the copy module which allows for shallow and deep copies.
Some Python objects allow assignment. For example, you can assign to a list without creating a new object:
For dictionaries, you could use the clear() method followed by update(otherdict) to assign to a dictionary without creating a new object. For a set s , you can use
Yes you can:
will do the default assignment semantic in C/C++ (i.e. do a shallow assignment).
The problem with such generalized assignment is that it never works for everybody. In C++, you can override the assignment operator since you always have to pick whether you want a fully shallow assignment, fully deep assignment, or any shade between fully deep copy and fully shallow copy.
I don't think you are missing anything.
I like to picture variables in python as the name written on 'labels' that are attached to boxes but can change its placement by assignment, whereas in other languages, assignment changes the box's contents (and the assignment operator can be overloaded).
Beginners can write quite complex applications without being aware of that, but they are usually messy programs.
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It took me some time to understand this strange behavior:
I think these weird results are a combination of two factors:
As a result, the value of j used in the if-clause is not the one from the current iteration, but rather that from the previous iteration.
I find this behavior very misleading, and would call it a bug rather than a (bad) feature. My questions:
You have the evaluation order wrong.
In this example:
if the condition is false, the expression for the item is not evaluated.
It’s roughtly equivalent to this:
What you are looking for is:
I’m not looking for a way to solve this. I never use assignment expressions in comprehensions anyway. But look at the last two statements which are exactly the same, but they yield a different result. And if you change the name of the variable j, you get again something else. This looks like a flaky design to me, and certainly very confusing. While most of Python does precisely what you think it does, that is certainly not the case here.
I do find it surprising that the assignment expression leaks out of a comprehension (I only learned that in a recent discussion). It’s been known about for several years so I guess it isn’t considered a bug? Or maybe there’s some reason to allow it.
Wrong. It does do precisely what I think it does. I even hid the results from my view and tried to predict them, got all of them correct without any trouble.
There are a few notable exceptions to the usual rule of “evaluate left to right”, and if you don’t comprehend them (pun intended), you’ll be very confused. Some are fairly obvious to anyone who’s done any sort of programming work (eg the body of a function isn’t executed at the time of definition, it waits till it’s called), but others are less obvious. Keep in mind this evaluation order:
With that in mind, everything else makes sense. It’s only if you expect to first evaluate the result expression and only afterwards the condition that it’ll be confusing; and while that might seem logical, it also wouldn’t work the way every other guard does - imagine [1/x for x in range(-5, 5)] and then add a guard against division by zero [1/x for x in range(-5, 5) if x] which clearly has to be checked prior to the 1/x part.
I think you’re overblowing the problem here a bit. Calling something “disturbing” might be appropriate if you’re calling out someone’s lack of faith, but this is simply a fact to be learned. Calling the design “flaky” is definitely inaccurate - this is entirely reliable and dependable, it just wasn’t what you came in expecting. Treat it as a discovery moment, welcome it, and move on.
Yes, you’re right. I should have called it ‘surprising’ rather than ‘disturbing’. And it was surprising to me, obviously not to others. I would have liked that the variables assigned in the comprehension would have a local scope. But it is like it is, and changing that would be a breaking change. So it is something to just learn and remember how it works, and I’ve just done that. I’ve even become confident now to start using assignment expressions in comprehensions. Thanks all for the explanations.
The behavior of assignment expressions in comprehensions and generator expressions is intentional. Read PEP 572: Scope of the target .
Thanks for the link
Looks like a quiz or interview question.
While it seems a little surprising to a naive or tired brain, the first line actually gives it away.
If the first comprehension were replaced with an explicit j = 6 , the behaviour is not surprising at all.
In other words: it’s not about Python comprehension semantics, rather about this particular arrangement of code.
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IMAGES
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Here, variable represents a generic Python variable, while expression represents any Python object that you can provide as a concrete value—also known as a literal—or an expression that evaluates to a value. To execute an assignment statement like the above, Python runs the following steps: Evaluate the right-hand expression to produce a concrete value or object.
Getting Started Mean Median Mode Standard Deviation Percentile Data Distribution Normal Data Distribution Scatter Plot Linear Regression Polynomial Regression Multiple Regression Scale Train/Test Decision Tree Confusion Matrix Hierarchical Clustering Logistic Regression ... Python Assignment Operators. Assignment operators are used to assign ...
The Walrus Operator in Python is a new assignment operator which is introduced in Python version 3.8 and higher. This operator is used to assign a value to a variable within an expression. Syntax: a := expression. Example: In this code, we have a Python list of integers. We have used Python Walrus assignment operator within the Python while loop.
Multiple- target assignment: x = y = 75. print(x, y) In this form, Python assigns a reference to the same object (the object which is rightmost) to all the target on the left. OUTPUT. 75 75. 7. Augmented assignment : The augmented assignment is a shorthand assignment that combines an expression and an assignment.
Here's a list of different assignment operators available in Python. Operator Name Example = Assignment Operator: a = 7 += Addition Assignment: a += 1 # a = a + 1 ... It's important to note that having two variables with equal values doesn't necessarily mean they are identical. Operator Meaning Example; is: True if the operands are identical ...
Each new version of Python adds new features to the language. For Python 3.8, the biggest change is the addition of assignment expressions.Specifically, the := operator gives you a new syntax for assigning variables in the middle of expressions. This operator is colloquially known as the walrus operator.. This tutorial is an in-depth introduction to the walrus operator.
In Python, a single equals sign = is the "assignment operator." (A double equals sign == is the "real" equals sign.) Variables are names for values. In Python the = symbol assigns the value on the right to the name on the left. The variable is created when a value is assigned to it. Here, Python assigns an age to a variable age and a ...
The simple assignment operator is the most commonly used operator in Python. It is used to assign a value to a variable. The syntax for the simple assignment operator is: variable = value. Here, the value on the right-hand side of the equals sign is assigned to the variable on the left-hand side. For example.
Python comes with a couple of shorthand assignment operators. Some of the most common ones include the following: Operator. Meaning. +=. Add the value on the right to the variable on the left. -=. Subtract the value on the right from the variable on the left. *=.
Python Assignment Operator. The = (equal to) symbol is defined as assignment operator in Python. The value of Python expression on its right is assigned to a single variable on its left. The = symbol as in programming in general (and Python in particular) should not be confused with its usage in Mathematics, where it states that the expressions on the either side of the symbol are equal.
Although the definition of assignment implies that overlaps between the left-hand side and the right-hand side are 'simultaneous' (for example a, b = b, a swaps two variables), overlaps within the collection of assigned-to variables occur left-to-right, sometimes resulting in confusion. For instance, the following program prints [0, 2]:
The Python Operators are used to perform operations on values and variables. These are the special symbols that carry out arithmetic, logical, and bitwise computations. The value the operator operates on is known as the Operand. Here, we will cover Different Assignment operators in Python. Operators Sign Description SyntaxAssignment Operator = Assi
Python uses in-fix assignment operators to perform operations on variables or operands and assign values to the operand on the left side of the operator. It carries out calculations involving arithmetic, logical, and bitwise operations. Python assignment operator provides a way to define assignment statements.
Python Operators: Arithmetic, Assignment, Comparison, Logical, Identity, Membership, Bitwise. Operators are special symbols that perform some operation on operands and returns the result. For example, 5 + 6 is an expression where + is an operator that performs arithmetic add operation on numeric left operand 5 and the right side operand 6 and ...
116. This symbol := is an assignment operator in Python (mostly called as the Walrus Operator ). In a nutshell, the walrus operator compresses our code to make it a little shorter. Here's a very simple example: # without walrus. n = 30. if n > 10: print(f"{n} is greater than 10") # with walrus.
Valid Names for Variables . A variable name may consist of alphanumeric characters (a-z, A-Z, 0-9) and the underscore symbol (_); a valid name cannot begin with a numerical value.var: valid _var2: valid. ApplePie_Yum_Yum: valid. 2cool: invalid (begins with a numerical character). I.am.the.best: invalid (contains .. They also cannot conflict with character sequences that are reserved by the ...
Assignment operators in Python are in-fix which are used to perform operations on variables or operands and assign values to the operand on the left side of the operator. They perform arithmetic, logical, and bitwise computations. Assignment Operators in Python. Simple assignment operator in Python; Add and equal operator; Subtract and equal ...
The assignment operator in Python is used as the "=" symbol. Let's see a very basic example of the assignment operator. Table Of Assignment Operators. Here we will see different assignment operators in Python with their names, descriptions, and syntax. Let's take them one by one. Operator Name
Python Identity Operators. Identity operators are used to compare the objects, not if they are equal, but if they are actually the same object, with the same memory location: Operator. Description. Example. Try it. is. Returns True if both variables are the same object. x is y.
Python has an assignment operator that helps to assign values or expressions to the left-hand-side variable. The assignment operator is represented as the "=" symbol used in assignment statements and assignment expressions. In the assignment operator, the right-hand side value or operand is assigned to the left-hand operand.
See also Multiple assignment semantics regarding the effect and purpose of parentheses on the left-hand side of a multiple assignment. See also Understand Python swapping: why is a, b = b, a not always equivalent to b, a = a, b? for more complex cases, where the order of assignment matters.
Python's built-in sum() function makes this task straightforward and efficient. Computing the Mean. The compute_mean(list_of_numbers) function calculates the mean by dividing the sum of the numbers by the length of the list. def compute_mean(list_of_numbers): """ Computes the mean of the list of numbers.
This brings the question: is it possible to have proper assignment in python, eg make an object equal to another object? Yes you can: a.__dict__ = dict(b.__dict__) will do the default assignment semantic in C/C++ (i.e. do a shallow assignment). The problem with such generalized assignment is that it never works for everybody.
the assignment expression's variable j is not visible in the if-clause and thus a global variable is used, the assignment expression leaks the assigned variable into the global namespace. As a result, the value of j used in the if-clause is not the one from the current iteration, but rather that from the previous iteration.