Introduction To Computing And Problem Solving Using Python

336 Pages·2016·3.807 MB·English

by  E. Balaguruswamy

I C P
NTRODUCTION TO OMPUTING AND ROBLEM
S U P
OLVING SING YTHON
A A
BOUT THE UTHOR
E Balagurusamy is presently the Chairman of EBG Foundation, Coimbatore. In the past he has also held the
positions of member, Union Public Service Commission, New Delhi and Vice-Chancellor, Anna University,
Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He is a teacher, trainer and consultant in the fields of Information Technology and
Management. He holds an ME (Hons) in Electrical Engineering and PhD in Systems Engineering from the
Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, Uttarakhand. His areas of interest include Object-Oriented Software
Engineering, E-Governance: Technology Management, Business Process Re-engineering and Total Quality
Management.
A prolific writer, he has authored a large number of research papers and several books. His best-selling
books, among others include:
● Programming in ANSIC, 7/e
● Fundamentals of Computers
● Computing Fundamentals and C Programming
● Programming in C#, 3/e
● Programming in Java, 5/e
● Object-Oriented Programming with C++, 5/e
● Programming in BASIC, 3/e
● Numerical Methods
● Reliability Engineering
A recipient of numerous honors and awards, he has been listed in the Directory of Who’s Who of
Intellectuals and in the Directory of Distinguished Leaders in Education.
I C P
NTRODUCTION TO OMPUTING AND ROBLEM
S U P
OLVING SING YTHON
E Balagurusamy
Chairman
EBG Foundation
Coimbatore
McGraw Hill Education (India) Private Limited
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Introduction to Computing & Problem Solving using Python, 1e
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C
ONTENTS
Preface ix
Acknowledgements xiii
Chapter 1 Introduction to Digital Computer 1
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Von Neumann Concept 3
1.3 Storage 6
1.4 Programming Languages 10
1.5 Translators 12
1.6 Hardware and Software 13
1.7 Operating Systems 15
Always Remember 16
Key Terms 16
Review Exercises 17
Multiple Choice Questions 17
Short Questions 19
Answers to Multiple Choice Questions 20
Chapter 2 Problem Solving Strategies 21
2.1 Problem Analysis 21
2.2 Algorithms 22
2.3 Flow Charts 24
2.4 Examples of Algorithms and Flow Charts 28
Always Remember 33
Key Terms 33
Review Exercises 34
Multiple Choice Questions 34
Short Questions 35
Answers to Multiple Choice Questions 35
vi Contents
Chapter 3 Introduction toPython 36
3.1 Introduction 36
3.2 Python Overview 36
3.3 Getting Started with Python 37
3.4 Comments 42
3.5 Python Identifiers 42
3.6 Reserved Keywords 43
3.7 Variables 43
3.8 Standard Data Types 45
3.9 Operators 51
3.10 Statement and Expression 61
3.11 String Operations 62
3.12 Boolean Expressions 64
3.13 Control Statements 65
3.14 Iteration – while Statement 71
3.15 Input from Keyboard 73
Always Remember 75
Key Terms 76
Review Exercises 76
Multiple Choice Questions 80
Short Questions 81
Answers to Multiple Choice Questions 81
Chapter 4 Functions 82
4.1 Introduction 82
4.2 Built-in Functions 82
4.3 Composition of Functions 88
4.4 User Defined Functions 89
4.5 Parameters and Arguments 92
4.6 Function Calls 96
4.7 Thereturn Statement 97
4.8 Python Recursive Function 98
4.9 The Anonymous Functions 98
4.10 Writing Python Scripts 100
Always Remember 102
Key Terms 103
Review Exercises 104
Multiple Choice Questions 109
Short Questions 110
Answers to Multiple Choice Questions 111
Contents vii
Chapter 5 Strings and Lists 112
5.1 Strings 112
5.2 Lists 124
Always Remember 132
Key Terms 133
Review Exercises 134
Multiple Choice Questions 141
Short Questions 144
Answers to Multiple Choice Questions 147
Chapter 6 Tuples and Dictionaries 148
6.1 Tuples 148
6.2 Dictionaries 159
Always Remember 166
Key Terms 167
Review Exercises 168
Multiple Choice Questions 174
Short Questions 177
Answers to Multiple Choice Questions 179
Chapter 7 Files and Exceptions 180
7.1 Text Files 180
7.2 Directories 190
7.3 Exceptions 192
7.4 Exception with Arguments 198
7.5 User-Defined Exceptions 199
Always Remember 201
Key Terms 202
Review Exercises 203
Multiple Choice Questions 208
Short Questions 210
Answers to Multiple Choice Questions 211
Chapter 8 Classes and Objects 212
8.1 Overview of OOP (Object-Oriented Programming) 212
8.2 Class Definition 213
8.3 Creating Objects 215
8.4 Objects as Arguments 218
8.5 Objects as Return Values 219
8.6 Built-in Class Attributes 220
8.7 Inheritance 221
8.8 Method Overriding 225
8.9 Data Encapsulation 225
viii Contents
8.10 Data Hiding 227
Always Remember 228
Key Terms 229
Review Exercises 230
Multiple Choice Questions 236
Short Questions 238
Answers to Multiple Choice Questions 239
Appendix A: Practice Exercises with Algorithm and Flow Chart 240
Appendix B: Problem Solving Exercises—With Algorithm and Pseudocode 293
Appendix C: Fundamental Standard Library Modules 317
P
REFACE
Developments in the field of digital electronics and the huge amount of data generated during the last
few decades ushered in the second Industrial Revolution which is popularly referred to as the Information
Revolution. Information technology played an ever-increasing role in this new revolution. A sound knowledge
of how computers work, process and analyze data has, therefore, become indispensable for everyone who
seeks employment not only in the area of IT, but also in any other fields. Rightly so, many institutions and
universities in India have introduced a subject covering the fundamentals of computation and problem solving
with Python for their undergraduate students. This book caters to those needs of the undergraduate students.
Why learn Python?
Python is a high-level, interpreted, reflective, dynamically typed, open-source, multi-paradigm, and general-
purpose programming language. It is quite powerful and easy. It offers no special tools or features that let
you do things that you cannot do with other languages, but its elegant design and combination of certain
features make Python a pleasure to use.
What’s Special in this Book?
The book ensures a smooth and successful transition to a skilled expert in Python. This book uses a simple-
to-complex and easy-to-learn approach throughout the book. The concept of ‘learning by-solving’ has been
stressed in all the chapters of the book. Each feature of Python is treated in-depth followed by a complete
program example to illustrate its use. Wherever necessary, concepts are explained pictorially to facilitate
better understanding. It presents a contemporary approach to programming, offering a combination of theory
and practice.
Each of the 8 chapters follow a common structure with a range of learning and assessment tools for
instructors and students.
SALIENT FEATURES of the Book
The salient features of the book include the following:
● Bottom-up approach of explaining concepts has been adopted in the book.
x Preface
● Algorithms and flowcharts have been discussed extensively in an appendix.
● Codes with Comments have been provided throughout the book to illustrate the use of various features
of Python.
● Supplementary Information and important notes that complement, but stand apart from the text, have
been included in special boxes under the head Notes.
● Always Remember consists of important summary points at the end of every chapter to help the readers
recollect the topics covered with ease.
● Check Your Understanding helps the readers evaluate their learning after every section within the
chapters of the book.
● Important Key Terms within the chapter have been listed at the end.
Review Exercises comprising Multiple choice questions along with answer keys, short questions and
programming exercises are provided at the chapter end to help readers test their conceptual understanding.
Organization of the Book
The book spans across eight chapters. The first two chapters introduces the learner to digital computers–the
basic structure, programming languages, operating systems, problem solving strategies and conventional
introduction to programming. The next six chapters present a more-or-less the conventional introduction to
programming. The readers learn about variables, types, statements, conditionals, loops, functions, recursion,
classes and inheritance. In all the chapters, first the basic ideas are explained, and then the reader is led
through a process of experimentation that helps them find and test the limits of their understanding.
Web Supplements
The web supplements can be accessed at <http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/9352602587> which
contains the following:
● Solution Manual
● Lecture PPTs covering
1. Important standard library
(a) argparse
(b) csv
(c) math
(d) os
(e) pickle
(f) random
(g) subprocess
2. How to install third party libraries
(a) Using pip
(i) Installing pip under Windows and Linux
(ii) Using pip to install a package
(b) Installing packages from source.