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2.2 Programming Fundamentals

Variable  

A named container, that stores a value in memory, that can change its value whilst the programming is running. 

myVar = 0

Constant  

A named container, that stores a value in memory, that cannot change its value whilst the program is running. 

 

const myConst = 0 (note that python does not have a constant keyword) 

Operators 

+, -, , /, MOD,DIV, ^ (or *) 

==, !=, <, <=, >, >= 

Assignment 

favNum = 5 

Input  

favNum = input(“Type in your number”) 

Output 

print(“your favourite number is”, favNum) 

Integer 

A whole number 

1, 5, -259  

Real / Float 

Numbers which can, but do not necessarily, have a fractional part 

1.5, -125.1 

Boolean 

TRUE or FALSE  

(1 or 0) 

Sequence 

A set of instructions executed in order (line by line). 

myVar = 0 

print(myVar) 

Selection 

Instructions that do not have to be executed in sequence (non-sequential). The next instruction is based on the results of an event / condition. 

if myVar < 0: 

     print (“negative!!”) 

else: 

     print (“positive!!”) 

Iteration 

Repetition of a block of statements within a program. 

Count-controlled iteration (fixed iterations) 

for i in range(5, 10, 3) 

      print(“hello”, i) 

 

Nested count-controlled iteration 

for i in range (5) 

       for j in range(5) 

              print(“hello”, i*j) 

 

 

Condition-controlled iteration (indefinite) 

i = 5 

while(i < 10) 

       print(“hello”, i) 

       i += 3 

Character 

A single alphanumeric symbol 

‘a’, ‘c’, ‘1’ 

String 

One or more alphanumeric characters 

“abcd”, “123”, “12/01”, “£3.50” 

Casting 

Changing how a variable’s data type is interpreted / a temporary conversion of data type. 

 

datatype( yourVariable  ) 

i.e.  

favNumString = str(favNum) 

print(“your favourite number is” + favNumString) 

 

Subroutines 

A block of indented code that is executed whenever the name/identifier is called in the program. It may or may not have arguments input to it when called. Subroutines: allow code to be reused multiple times; make it easier to debug code (more maintainable); split the code up to allow programmers to work on different parts at once. 

 

def mySubroutine(): 

       print(“You have called mySubroutine!!”) 

 

for i in range(5) 

      mySubroutine() 

 

Functions 

A subroutine that returns a value 

 

def mySubroutine(x, y) 

      return (x + y) * x 

 

 

 

Procedures 

A subroutine that does not return a value 

 

def mySubroutine(x, y) 

       print((x + y) * x) 

Arrays (& array functions) 

favFoods = [“Chicken”, “Fish and Chips”] 

favFoods.append(“Pizza”) 

favFoods.pop(1) 

print(favFoods[1]) 

favDrinks = [“Water”, “Orange Juice”] 

favThings = favFoods + favDrinks 

IC

2.2 Programming Fundamentals

Variable  

A named container, that stores a value in memory, that can change its value whilst the programming is running. 

myVar = 0

Constant  

A named container, that stores a value in memory, that cannot change its value whilst the program is running. 

 

const myConst = 0 (note that python does not have a constant keyword) 

Operators 

+, -, , /, MOD,DIV, ^ (or *) 

==, !=, <, <=, >, >= 

Assignment 

favNum = 5 

Input  

favNum = input(“Type in your number”) 

Output 

print(“your favourite number is”, favNum) 

Integer 

A whole number 

1, 5, -259  

Real / Float 

Numbers which can, but do not necessarily, have a fractional part 

1.5, -125.1 

Boolean 

TRUE or FALSE  

(1 or 0) 

Sequence 

A set of instructions executed in order (line by line). 

myVar = 0 

print(myVar) 

Selection 

Instructions that do not have to be executed in sequence (non-sequential). The next instruction is based on the results of an event / condition. 

if myVar < 0: 

     print (“negative!!”) 

else: 

     print (“positive!!”) 

Iteration 

Repetition of a block of statements within a program. 

Count-controlled iteration (fixed iterations) 

for i in range(5, 10, 3) 

      print(“hello”, i) 

 

Nested count-controlled iteration 

for i in range (5) 

       for j in range(5) 

              print(“hello”, i*j) 

 

 

Condition-controlled iteration (indefinite) 

i = 5 

while(i < 10) 

       print(“hello”, i) 

       i += 3 

Character 

A single alphanumeric symbol 

‘a’, ‘c’, ‘1’ 

String 

One or more alphanumeric characters 

“abcd”, “123”, “12/01”, “£3.50” 

Casting 

Changing how a variable’s data type is interpreted / a temporary conversion of data type. 

 

datatype( yourVariable  ) 

i.e.  

favNumString = str(favNum) 

print(“your favourite number is” + favNumString) 

 

Subroutines 

A block of indented code that is executed whenever the name/identifier is called in the program. It may or may not have arguments input to it when called. Subroutines: allow code to be reused multiple times; make it easier to debug code (more maintainable); split the code up to allow programmers to work on different parts at once. 

 

def mySubroutine(): 

       print(“You have called mySubroutine!!”) 

 

for i in range(5) 

      mySubroutine() 

 

Functions 

A subroutine that returns a value 

 

def mySubroutine(x, y) 

      return (x + y) * x 

 

 

 

Procedures 

A subroutine that does not return a value 

 

def mySubroutine(x, y) 

       print((x + y) * x) 

Arrays (& array functions) 

favFoods = [“Chicken”, “Fish and Chips”] 

favFoods.append(“Pizza”) 

favFoods.pop(1) 

print(favFoods[1]) 

favDrinks = [“Water”, “Orange Juice”] 

favThings = favFoods + favDrinks 

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