MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

UCEST 105: ALGORITHMIC THINKING WITH PYTHON

MODULE 1
SYLLABUS MODULE 1 PART 1

PROBLEM-SOLVING STRATEGIES:- Problem-Solving strategies defined,

Importance of understanding multiple problem-solving strategies, Trial and Error,

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Heuristics, Means-Ends Analysis, and Backtracking ( Working backward).

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INTRODUCTION

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A computer is a very powerful and versatile machine capable of performing various tasks,
yet it has no intelligence or thinking power. A computer performs many tasks exactly in the
same manner as it is told to do. This places responsibility on the user to instruct the

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computer in a correct and a precise manner, so that the machine is able to perform the

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required job in a proper manner.

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In order to instruct a computer correctly, the user must have a clear understanding of the
problem to be solved. The term “problem” refers to a solution where the solution is not
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immediately apparent.
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A problem is defined by four conditions or parameters. They are:-
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● Initial situation
● Goal
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● Set of resources
● Commitment.
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If one or more of these components are missing, the problem is not well defined.Problems
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can be categorized into two: -

1. Well-defined Problems: That have specific goals, clear solutions and known
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expected outcomes.
2. Ill-defined Problems: That lack clear goals, solution paths and expected solutions.
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Q1. Differentiate between Well-defined problems and Ill-defined problems.

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Well-defined Problems Ill-defined Problems

1. Clear goals and Objectives Unclear and Vague goals and Objectives
2. Specific, measurable Multiple , conflicting outcomes
outcomes
3. Well defined constraints Ambiguous or uncertain constraints

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4. Relevant data available Insufficient data available

5. Single , Identifiable Solution Multiple possible solutions
6. Logical, step by step Requires creative, iterative approach
approach
7. Ex : Chess Game Ex: Paint a beautiful picture

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Q2. State any three Well-defined and Ill-defined problems, Justify your answer.

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Well-Defined Problems
These problems have clear goals, a defined path to a solution, and specific criteria for

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determining when the problem is solved. Let’s explore three examples:
1. Mathematical Equation:

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■ Problem: Solve the equation 2x+3=7.

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■ Why it’s Well-Defined: The problem has a clear goal (find the value

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of x), a specific method (solve for xx using algebraic rules), and a
definite solution (x=2).
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2. Crossword Puzzle:
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■ Problem: Complete a standard crossword puzzle.
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■ Why it’s Well-Defined: The crossword has a clear objective (fill in all
the squares with the correct words), a specific set of rules, and a single
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correct solution.
3. Recipe Execution:
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■ Problem: Bake a chocolate cake using a provided recipe.

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■ Why it’s Well-Defined: The goal (bake a chocolate cake) is clear, the
process is outlined step-by-step in the recipe, and success is
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measurable by the outcome (a baked cake that meets the description).

Ill-Defined Problems
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These problems are ambiguous, lack clear criteria for solutions, and often have multiple
possible solutions. Here are three examples:
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1. Designing a Sustainable City:

■ Problem: How can we design a sustainable city for the future?
■ Why it’s Ill-Defined: The problem is broad, with no single clear
solution. Various factors like environmental impact, social equity, and

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economic viability come into play, and different stakeholders might

have different views on what constitutes a "sustainable" city.
2. Writing a Novel:
■ Problem: Write a compelling novel that appeals to a broad audience.
■ Why it’s Ill-Defined: The goal is subjective (what is "compelling"?),
the process can vary widely, and success is difficult to measure.

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Different readers may have different interpretations of what makes the
novel appealing.

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3. Resolving Workplace Conflict:

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■ Problem: Resolve a conflict between two team members in the
workplace.

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■ Why it’s Ill-Defined: The problem is complex with no clear solution.
It involves interpersonal dynamics, emotions, and communication

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styles, and what works in one situation might not work in another.
Multiple solutions may exist, and the "right" one depends on various

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factors. IN
Summary
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● Well-Defined Problems are structured, with a clear path and solution.
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● Ill-Defined Problems are open-ended, ambiguous, and often subjective.

Understanding the nature of the problem helps in choosing the right approach to solving it.
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Problem-Solving strategies defined

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A problem solving strategy is a plan used to find a solution or overcome a challenge. Each
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problem solving strategy includes multiple steps to provide you with helpful guidelines on
how to resolve a problem. Effective problem solving requires you to identify the problem,
select the right process to approach it and develop a plan to resolve the issue.
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Importance of Understanding Problem solving Strategies

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Understanding multiple problem solving strategies is crucial because it equips individuals

with a diverse toolkit to tackle a variety of challenges. Some problems might be best solved
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through a systematic trial and error method, while others might benefit from a more
analytical approach like means-ends analysis. By knowing several strategies, one can
quickly switch tactics when one method does not work, increasing the chances of finding a
successful solution. Having a collection of problem-solving strategies enhances critical
thinking and creativity thereby leading to more innovative and effective solutions. It boosts
confidence and competence in facing various challenges.

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Benefits include :-

● Adaptability
● Efficiency
● Improved Outcomes
● Skill Development

Steps Involved in Problem Solving:- Identify the problem, Define the problem, List all the

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possible solutions, Evaluate options and Implement the solution.

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Problem Solving Strategies

Commonly used problem-solving strategies include

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1. Trial and Error

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2. Algorithm
3. Heuristics

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4. Means-Ends Analysis
5. Backtracking

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1. Trial and Error
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A trial-and-error approach to problem-solving involves trying a number of different
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solutions and ruling out those that do not work. This approach can be a good option if you
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have a very limited number of options available. Using trial and error, one has to try
different solutions until the problem is solved.
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Steps :
1. Identify the problem – Start by clearly defining the issue
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2. Try a solution – Attempt a possible solution

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3. Evaluate the outcome – Check if the solution worked.

4. Repeat – If the solution failed, try a different one.
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Example
1. In terms of a broken printer for example, one could try checking the ink levels, and
if that doesn’t work, you could check to make sure the paper tray isn’t jammed. Or
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maybe the printer isn’t actually connected to a laptop.

2. Restarting phone, turning off WiFi, turning off bluetooth in order to determine why
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your phone is malfunctioning.

Although trial and error is not typically one of the most time-efficient strategies, it is a
commonly used one.

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2. Algorithm

An algorithm is a step-by-step, logical procedure that guarantees a solution to a problem. It

is systematic and follows a defined sequence of operations, ensuring consistency and
accuracy in finding the correct solution.

Example: Algorithm for Baking a Cake

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1. Gather ingredients

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2. Preheat Oven
3. Mix Ingredients
4. Prepare baking Pan

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5. Pour Batter
6. Bake

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7. Check for Doneness
8. Cool and Serve

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When you run a search on the Internet, search engines like Google use algorithms to decide

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which entries will appear first in your list of results. Facebook also uses algorithms to
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decide which posts to display on your newsfeed.
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3. Heuristics
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A heuristic is another type of problem solving strategy that allow us to make decisions
quickly without having all the relevant information. It can thought of as mental shortcuts
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that are used to solve problems. A “rule of thumb” is an example of a heuristic. Such a rule
saves the person time and energy when making a decision. Different types of heuristics are
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used in different types of situations, but the impulse to use a heuristic occurs when one of
five conditions is met:-
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● When one is faced with too much information

● When the time to make a decision is limited
● When the decision to be made is unimportant
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● When there is access to very little information to use in making the decision
● When an appropriate heuristic happens to come to mind in the same moment
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Different types of heuristics are :

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a. Breaking a large goal or task into a series of smaller steps.

For example : For completing a large research project, they typically start by
● students typically brainstorm, develop a thesis or main topic,
● research the chosen topic, organize their information into an outline,
● write a rough draft

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MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

● revise and edit the rough draft, develop a final draft, organize the references
list
● proofread their work before turning in the project.

The large task becomes less overwhelming when it is broken down into a series of small
steps.

b. Guess and Check

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This method involves making a guess, checking if it solves the problem, and refining the

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guess based on outcomes. This method is particularly useful when the problem doesn’t
have an obvious solution, and you can try different possibilities until you find the correct
one.

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How Guess and Check Works:

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1. Make an Initial Guess: Start by guessing a possible solution based on what you

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know.
2. Check the Guess: Determine if your guess solves the problem.

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3. Refine the Guess: If the guess is incorrect, use the information you gained from
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checking to make a better guess.
4. Repeat: Continue guessing, checking, and refining until you find the correct
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solution.
Example : Find the number that when added to 15, gives 32.
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Solution :-
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● Initially make a guess as the number is 20.

● Check the guess, 15+20=35, since 35 is larger than the expected answer, refine the
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guess based on the outcome.

● Now refine the guess taking the number as 18.
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● Check the guess 15+18=33.

● Now the answer is very close.
● Again lower the guess to 17 and check, 15+17=32, and the guess is now correct.
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c. Working backwards
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This is a useful heuristic in which you begin solving the problem by focusing on the end
result.
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Consider this example: Imagine you need to arrive at an important meeting by 3.00pm. To
plan your day using the working backwards heuristic, you need to start from the end result
and think about the steps needed to get there. You consider that it takes 30 minutes to get to
the meeting location, so you need to leave by 2.30pm. Before that you need an hour to
prepare,so you start getting ready at 1.30pm. If you also want to finish a task that takes an
hour before getting ready, you need to start that by 12.30pm. By working backwards, you
effectively plan your day to ensure you arrive at the meeting on time.

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4. Means Ends Analysis (MEA)

This strategy involves choosing and analyzing a problem at a series of smaller steps to
move closer to the goal.

Example 1 : The Tower of Hanoi problem.

The Tower of Hanoi is a mathematical puzzle. There are three rods, source(A), Auxiliary

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(B) and Destination(C). Rod A contains a set of disks stacked to resemble a tower, with the

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largest disk at the bottom and the smallest disk at the top. Fig:- 1 Illustrate the initial
configuration of the rods for 3 disks. The objective is to transfer the entire tower of disks in
rod A to rod C maintaining the same order of the disks.

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Rules:

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1. Only one disk can be transferred at a time.

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2. Each move consists of taking the upper disk from one of the rods and placing it on
the top of another rod i.e. a disk can only be moved if it is the uppermost disk of the

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rod. IN
3. Never a larger disk is placed on a smaller disk during the transfer.
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Fig 1:- Initial State

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The solution to the puzzle calls for an application of recursive functions and recurrence
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relations.

A recursive procedure for the solution of the problem for N number of disks is as follows:
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1. Move the top N-1 disks from rod A to rod B using C as an auxiliary rod
2. Move the bottom disk from rod A to rod C
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3. Move N-1 disks from rod B to rod C using Peg A as an auxiliary rod
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The minimum number of moves required to solve a Tower of Hanoi puzzle is given by
2^N – 1, where N is the number of disks. i.e., if there are 14 disks, then minimum
number of moves needed = (2^14) - 1 = 16383.

The pictorial representation of the recursive procedure for N=4 disks is shown in Fig 2:-

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Example of Tower of Hanoi for n=3.
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EN
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Minimum number of moves with 3 disks= 2^n-1= 2^3-1=7.

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Example of Tower of Hanoi for n=4.

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Minimum number of moves with 4 disks= 2^n-1= 2^4 -1=15.

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Example 2: Imagine you want to plan a road trip from Trivandrum to Kashmir. Here is how
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you might use means-ends analysis:

A. Define the Goal: Your ultimate goal is to drive from Trivandrum to Kashmir.
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B. Analyze the Current State: You start in Trivandrum with your car ready to go.
C. Identify the Differences: The primary difference is the distance between Trivandrum
and Kashmir, which is approximately 3,700 kilometers.
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D. Set Sub-Goals (Means):

a. Fuel and Rest Stops: Determine where you will need to stop for fuel and rest.
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b. Daily Driving Targets: Break the trip into daily segments, driving 500-600 kms per
day.
c. Route Planning: Choose the most efficient and scenic route, considering highways,
weather conditions, and places you want to visit.
E. Implement the Plan:
a. Day 1: Drive from Trivandrum to Bangalore, Karnataka (approx. 720 km). Refuel
in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Overnight stay in Bangalore.

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b. Day 2: Drive from Bangalore to Hyderabad, Telangana (approx. 570 km). Refuel
in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. Overnight stay in Hyderabad.
c. Day 3: Drive from Hyderabad to Nagpur, Maharashtra (approx. 500 km). Refuel in
Adilabad, Telangana. Overnight stay in Nagpur.
d. Day 4: Drive from Nagpur to Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh (approx. 580 km). Refuel in
Sagar, Madhya Pradesh. Overnight stay in Jhansi.
e. Day 5: Drive from Jhansi to Agra, Uttar Pradesh (approx. 290 km). Refuel in
Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. Overnight stay in Agra. Visit the Taj Mahal.

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f. Day 6: Drive from Agra to Chandigarh (approx. 450 km). Refuel in Karnal,

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Haryana. Overnight stay in Chandigarh.
g. Day 7: Drive from Chandigarh to Jammu (approx. 350 km). Refuel in Pathankot,
Punjab. Overnight stay in Jammu.

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h. Day 8: Drive from Jammu to Srinagar, Kashmir (approx. 270 km).
F. Adjust as Needed: Throughout the trip, you may need to make adjustments based on

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traffic, road conditions, or personal preferences.

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By breaking down the long journey into smaller segments and addressing each part
systematically, you can effectively plan and complete the road trip. This method ensures

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that you stay on track and make steady progress toward your final destination, despite the
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complexity and distance of the trip.

5. Backtracking
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Backtracking is a problem solving technique that involves trying different options until the
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right solution is found. Backtracking algorithms are problem solving strategies that explore
various options to find the optimal solution. They operate by testing different paths, and if
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a path doesn't lead to a solution they backtrack and try another route until they find the
correct one. Backtracking can also be defined as a technique that involves finding a
solution incrementally by trying different options and undoing them if they lead to a dead
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end.
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Example given below:-

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In the above problem, the Start node is X and destination node is G. We first move through
the route X-A-B but it reaches a dead end, then we backtrack again and select another path
X-A-C, it also encounters a dead end. Try different paths X-D-E,also reach a dead end.
Next we move through X-D-F-G and reach the destination node.

Whenever a dead end is encountered it goes back to the start node and continues searching
for a different route until the solution is discovered or all options have been considered.
Other examples :- Sudoku puzzle, Maze problem, forgetting the PIN to unlock your

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smartphone etc.

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SYLLABUS MODULE - 1 PART - 2

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THE PROBLEM-SOLVING PROCESS:- Computer as a model of computation,
Understanding the problem, Formulating a model, Developing an algorithm, Writing

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the program, Testing the program, and Evaluating the solution.

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Basic Model of a Computer

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Computer science is all about solving problems with computers. The problems that we
want to solve can come from any real-world problem or from the abstract world. We need
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to have a standard systematic approach to solving problems. Since we will be using
computers to solve problems, it is important to first understand the computer’s information
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processing model.
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Von Neumann Architecture

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EN
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The model shown in figure below assumes a single CPU (Central Processing Unit). Many
computers today have multiple CPUs, so it can be imagined the model in the figure can be
duplicated multiple times within the computer.

INSTRUCTION EXECUTION CYCLE

CPU executes an instruction in a series of steps called instruction execution cycle. An

instruction cycle (sometimes called a fetch–decode–execute cycle) is the process by which

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a computer retrieves a program instruction from its memory, determines what actions to

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perform, and carries out those actions to produce meaningful output.

The cycle comprises the following steps:

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1. Fetch the instruction from memory
2. Decode the instruction, and the operation to be performed is thus identified.

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3. Execute the instruction, performing the operation identified in the decode step by the CPU.

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4. Store the result in the main memory, or send it to an output device.

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This cycle is then repeated for the next instruction.
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Instruction Execution Cycle
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EN
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A typical computer architecture comprises of three main components:

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1. Input/Output (I/O) Unit

2. Central Processing Unit (CPU)
3. Memory Unit

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The I/O unit consists of the input unit and output devices. The input devices accept data
from the user, which the CPU processes. The output devices transfer the processed data
(information) to the user. The memory unit is used to store the input data, the instructions
required to process the input, and the output information.

Input devices

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Input devices allow users to input data into the computer for processing. The data input to a

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computer can be in the form of text, audio, video, etc. Input devices are classified into two
categories:

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1. Human data entry devices – the user enters data into the computer by typing or
pointing a device to a particular location. Some examples are

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a. Keyboard – the most common typing device.

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b. Mouse – the most common pointing device. You move the mouse around on a

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mouse pad and a small pointer called cursor follows your movements on the
computer screen.
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c. Trackball – an alternative to a mouse which has a ball on the top. The cursor on
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the computer screen moves in the direction in which the ball is moved.
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d. Joystick – has a stick whose movement determines the cursor position.

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e. Graphics tablet – converts hand-drawn images into a format suitable for computer
processing.
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2. Source data entry devices –They use special equipment to collect data at the source,
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create machine-readable data, and feed them directly into the computer. This category
comprises:
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a. Audio input devices – It uses human voice or speech to give input. Microphones
are an example.
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b. Video input devices – They accept input in the form of video or images. Video
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cameras and webcams are examples.

c. Optical input devices – They use optical technology (light source) to input the
data into computers. Some common optical input devices are scanners and barcode
readers.

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Output devices

An output device takes processed data from the computer and converts them into
information that can be understood by humans. The output could be on paper or can be
audio, video, etc. Output devices are classified as follows:

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1. Hard copy devices – The output obtained on paper or any surface is called hard copy
output. The hard copy can be stored permanently and is portable. The hard copy output can

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be read or used without a computer. Examples in this category include:

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a. Printer – prints information on paper. The information could be textual or even
images. Drum printers, laser printers, and inkjet printers are some commonly used
printer types.

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b. Plotter – used to produce very large drawings on paper using very fine pens.

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Flatbed plotters and drum plotters are two types of plotters.

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2. Soft Copy Devices – Generates a soft copy of the output on a visual display (monitor),
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audio unit, or video unit. The soft copy can be stored and sent via e-mail to other users. It
also allows corrections to be made. The soft copy output requires a computer to be read or
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used. This category comprises:
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a. Monitor – the primary output device of a computer.

b. Video output devices – produce output in the form of video or images. An example
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is a screen image projector or data projector that displays information from the
computer onto a large white screen.
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c. Audio output devices – speakers, headsets, or headphones, are used for audio
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output (in the form of sound) from a computer.

Central Processing Unit

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The Central Processing Unit (CPU) or the processor, is known as the brain of a computer. It
consists of an Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) and a Control Unit (CU). In addition, the CPU
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also has a set of registers which are temporary storage areas for holding data and
instructions.
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I. Arithmetic Logic Unit

This unit consists of two sub-units, namely arithmetic and logic units.

a. Arithmetic unit – performs arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction,

multiplication, and division, on the data.

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b. Logic unit – performs logical operations like comparisons of data values.

II. Registers

Registers are high-speed storage areas within the CPU but have the least storage capacity.
They store data, instructions, addresses, and intermediate results of processing. Some of the
commonly used registers are:

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a. Accumulator (ACC) – stores the result of arithmetic and logic operations.

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b. Instruction Register (IR) – holds the instruction that is currently being executed.
c. Program Counter (PC) – holds the address of the next instruction to be processed.

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III. Control Unit

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This unit manages and coordinates the operations of all parts of the computer. The

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functions of this unit are:

● generate control signals.

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● obtain instructions from the memory, interpret them, and then direct the ALU to
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execute those instructions.
● communicate with I/O devices.
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● decides when to fetch the data and instructions, what operation to perform, where to
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store the results.

Memory unit
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Memory is the storage space in a computer where data to be processed and instructions
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required for processing are stored. The various memories can be organized hierarchically
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called memory hierarchy as shown in figure below.

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Memory is primarily of two types:

I. Internal Memory: memories that reside on the motherboard.

Internal memory includes:

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1. Registers – high-speed storage areas within the CPU.

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2. Primary memory – main memory of the computer. It is categorized into two:

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a. Random Access Memory (RAM) – used for storing data and instructions
during the operation of a computer. Data to be processed is brought to RAM

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from input devices or secondary memory. It is a volatile memory, because
stored data may get lost if it is not saved. After processing, the results are stored

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in RAM before being sent to the output device.

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b. Read Only Memory (ROM) – a non-volatile primary memory. It does not lose
its content when the power is switched off. ROM, as the name implies, has only
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reading capability and no write capability. After the information is stored in
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ROM, it is permanent and cannot be modified. Therefore, ROM is used to store

the data that does not require a change, for example, the boot
information(means computer’s startup process ).
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3. Cache memory – placed between RAM and CPU and stores the data and
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instructions that are frequently used.

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II. External memory: memories that are outside the motherboard.

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External memory includes:

1. Magnetic tape – a plastic tape with magnetic coating mounted. It is a sequential

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access device, meaning that the data can be read only in the order in which it is
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stored.

2. Magnetic disk – a thin plastic or metallic circular plate coated with magnetic oxide
and encased in a protective cover. Hard disk is an example.

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3. Optical disk – a flat circular disk coated with reflective plastic material that can be
altered by laser light. CDs and DVDs are examples.

Computer as a model of computation

Regarding problem solving, we will apply the above model for simple computations. For
larger and more complex problems, we need to iterate (i.e., repeat) the input/process/output
stages multiple times in sequence.

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Definition: Problem Solving is the sequential process of analyzing information related

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to a given situation and generating appropriate response options.

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In solving a problem, there are some well-defined steps to be followed. It is noted that the
problem is easily solved by simply getting the input, computing something and producing
the output. We now examine the steps to problem solving within the context of various

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examples.

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Steps involved in problem solving

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1. Understanding the problem
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2. Formulating a model
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3. Developing an algorithm
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4. Writing the program

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5. Testing the program

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6. Evaluating the solution

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Understanding the problem

● The First Step in Problem Solving
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o It may sound simple, but the first step in solving any problem is to fully
understand it.
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● Identifying Input, Output and Processing Needs

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EXAMPLE 1:- Finding sum of two numbers

● INPUT REQUIREMENTS

We need to understand the input we require to solve the problem. For the
given example, input requirement is two numbers whether it can be of any type, like
real number, integer number or whole number.

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● OUTPUT REQUIREMENTS
Next we need to understand the output to obtain corresponding to the input
given. if we are giving real numbers as input the output obtained will be real, or if it
is integer then output will be integer.
● PROCESSING CONSIDERATIONS
We also need to understand how to reach the solution from the input given

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i.e, to understand a path to reach the solution.

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Formulating a model

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● The next step is to understand the processing part of the problem.
● In the example given, the sum of two numbers is to be computed. A model is thus

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needed for computing the sum of two numbers. If there is no such “formula”, one

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must be developed.
● Assuming that the input data is two integer numbers Number1, Number2

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representing a two numbers
Sum = Number1 + Number2
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The main point to understand this step in the problems solving process is that it is all about
figuring out how to make use of the available data to compute an answer.
R

Developing an algorithm
EE

● Next step is to develop a precise plan of what the computer is expected to do.
IN

● An algorithm is a set of steps for solving a particular problem, or

An algorithm is a precise sequence of instructions for solving a problem.
● To develop an algorithm, the instructions must be represented in a way that is
G

understandable to a person who is trying to figure out the steps involved.

EN

● Two commonly used representations for an algorithm is by using

i. Pseudo code :- an informal representation of an algorithm without
using any programming syntax
EA

ii. Flowchart :- a diagrammatic representation of an algorithm

● Example: - Let’s use a simple math problem to develop an algorithm, a pseudo code
M

and a flow chart

K

● Algorithm
Step 1: Start
Step 2: Input the first number
Step 3: Input the second number
Step 4: Add the two numbers
Step 5: Display the result

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MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

Step 6: End
● Pseudo code

1. Start
2. Input Number1
3. Input Number2
4. Sum = Number1 + Number2
5. Output Sum

E
6. End

EG
● Flow chart

LL
O
C
G
IN
R
EE
IN
G
EN

Writing the Program

● Once the algorithm is defined, the next step is to convert it into a form that a
EA

computer can execute. This process is known as writing the program, coding, or
implementing an algorithm.
M

● The next step is to transform the algorithm into a set of instructions that can be
understood by the computer. Writing a program is often called "coding" or
K

“implementing an algorithm”.
● Program in Python
n1 = 21
n2 = 7
sum = n1 + n2
print('Sum =', sum)

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MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

● After writing the code, test it with various inputs to ensure it works as expected.
Debug and compile the program to find issues or errors that arise during testing.
● Debugging is the method of finding and fixing errors.
● Compiling is the process of converting a program into instructions that can be
understood by the computer.
Testing the Program

E
● Once a program has been written and compiled, the next critical step is to ensure

EG
that whether the program performs the intended task correctly. Testing the program
involves running it with various inputs to verify its accuracy and reliability.
● Running a program is the process of telling the computer to evaluate the compiled

LL
instructions.
● If the program runs correctly, the expected output should be displayed.

O
● If the program doesn’t run correctly for some inputs then the user has to go back to
the algorithm development step that handles all situations that could arise.

C
o If the output is incorrect, it could be due to the algorithm not being properly
implemented in the program. or

G
o A flaw or a bug in the algorithm itself, which does not account for certain
IN
situations.
Bugs are errors in a program that cause it to produce incorrect or undesirable
R
results.
EE

Evaluating the Solution

● Once a program produces a result, revisit the original problem.
IN

● Ensure the output is formatted as a proper solution.

● Examine if the result aligns with the original intent.
G

● Determine if the output meets the problem's requirements.

● Remember that the computer executes instructions as given. The user must
EN

interpret results to determine effectiveness.

EA

EXAMPLE 2: Calculate the average grade for all students in a class.

Understanding the problem
M

INPUT REQUIREMENT: get all the grades … possibly by typing them in via the
K

keyboard
● Key Questions:
o What input data/information is available?
o What does the data represent, and in what format?
o Is anything missing from the data?
o Do I have everything needed to solve the problem?

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MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

● Example: Grades as Input:

o Grades could be numbers (0-100) or letter grades (A-F).
o If the grade is represented in number then it can be whole integer(eg:- 73) or
real number(e g:- 73.45)
o Consider how to handle missing grades (eg: - if we do not have the grade for
absent students: for instance should we be able to include that person in our
average calculation as 0 or ignore them when computing the average)?

E
OUTPUT REQUIREMENTS: output the answer to either the monitor, or to the printer

EG
● What output is needed, and in what format (text, number, graph)?
● Example: Should the result be a number, a letter grade, or a pie chart

LL
PROCESSING CONSIDERATIONS: Add them all up and compute the average grade.
Understand the processing steps required to achieve the desired output. This understanding
guides the problem-solving process.

O
Formulating a model

C
In the example given, the average of the incoming grades is to be computed. A model (or

G
formula) is thus needed for computing the average of a bunch of numbers. If there is no
IN
such “formula”, one must be developed.
R
· Assuming that the input data is a bunch of integers or real numbers 𝑥1, 𝑥2, ⋯ , 𝑥𝑛
representing a grade percentage, the following computational model may apply:
EE

𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒1 = (𝑥1 + 𝑥2 + 𝑥3 + ⋯ + 𝑥𝑛 )/𝑛 where the output will be a number from 0 to 100.
IN

·
The challenge facing in the above calculation is Letter grades (e.g., A, B-, C+)
G

cannot be directly added or divided.Solution is Assign Values to letter grades

EN

o Convert letter grades to numerical equivalents

𝐴 + = 12 𝐴 = 11 𝐴 − = 10 𝐵+=9
𝐵=8 𝐵−=7 𝐶+=6 𝐶=5
EA

𝐶−=4 𝐷+=3 𝐷=2 𝐷−=1 𝐹=0

M

o If it is assumed that these newly assigned grade numbers are 𝑦1, 𝑦2, ⋯ , 𝑦𝑛,
then the following computational model may be used:
K

𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒2 = (𝑦1 + 𝑦2 + 𝑦3 + ⋯ + 𝑦𝑛 )/𝑛 where the result will be

a number from 0 to 12.

If we want the output in percentage, you can convert it as:

Average (in percentage) = (Average₂ / 13)

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MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

The main point to understand this step in the problems solving process is that it is all about
figuring out how to make use of the available data to compute an answer.

Developing an algorithm:

Algorithm
STEP 1: Start
STEP 2: Read number of students, n

E
STEP 2: Read the marks of n students

EG
STEP 3: Compute average using the formula
STEP 4: Display Average
STEP 5: Stop

LL
Pseudo code

O
1. Start

C
2. Input n
3. Input the marks of n students, x1,x2,x3,…,xn

G
4. Average=(x1+x2+x3+…+xn)/n
5. Output Average
IN
6. End
R
Flow chart
EE
IN
G
EN
EA
M
K

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MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

Writing the program:

· # Program in Python

n = int("input(Enter number"))
sum = 0
# loop from 1 to n
for num in range(1,n+1,1):

E
sum = sum+num

EG
average=sum/n
print("Average of ",n,"numbers is: ",average)

LL
Test the program: You create a test suite with various types of numbers and check whether
the output obtained is correct or not.

O
EXAMPLE 3 : - A case study - The Discriminant calculator

C
1. Understanding the problem: Here we formally define the problem by specifying

G
the inputs and output. IN
Input: The three coefficients a, b and c of the quadratic equation
Output: The discriminant value D for the quadratic equation
R
EE

2. Formulating a model: Develop a mathematical model for the solution, that is

IN

identify the mathematical expression for the quadratic equation discriminant D:

D = b2 - 4ac
G

3. Developing an algorithm: A possible algorithm (actually, a pseudocode) for our

discriminant problem is given below:
EN

STEP 1: Start
STEP 2: Read (a,b,c)
EA

STEP 3: d = b∗b−4∗a∗c
STEP 4: Print (d)
M

STEP 5: Stop
K

4. Writing the program: The Python program to calculate the discriminant is as

follows:
#Input the coefficients
a = int(input("Enter the value of first coefficient"))
b = int(input("Enter the value of second coefficient"))
c = int(input("Enter the value of third coefficient"))

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MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

#Find the discriminant

d = (b**2) - (4*a*c)
#Print the discriminant
print(d)
5. Testing the program: You create a test suite similar to the one shown in Table 1.2.
Each row denotes a set of inputs (a,b, and c) and the expected output (d) with which
the actual output is to be compared.

E
EG
LL
O
C
G
SYLLABUS MODULE - 1 PART - 3 IN
ESSENTIALS OF PYTHON PROGRAMMING:- Creating and using variables in Python,
Numeric and String data types in Python, Using the math module, Using the Python
R
Standard Library for handling basic I/O - print, input, Python operators and their
EE

precedence.
Essentials of Python Programming
IN

INTRODUCTION
G

PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
EN

Programming languages are used to write programs that useare precise

representations of algorithms and control the behavior of a computer. Each language has a
unique set of keywords (words that it understands) and syntax (set of rules) to organize the
EA

program instructions.
Programming languages fall into three categories:
M

1. Machine language:- is what the computer can understand, but it is difficult for the
K

programmer to understand. Machine languages consist of binary numbers only. No

translation of the program is needed and it can be executed very fast. It is
machine-dependent ie. A machine-level program written for one type of computer may not
work on another type.

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MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

2. Assembly language:- falls in between machine language and high-level language. It is

similar to machine language, but easier to write code because it allows the programmer to

E
use symbolic names (like ADD, SUB) for operations called mnemonic codes that are

EG
much easier to remember.
Example : If the mnemonic code for addition is ADD, then to add 3 and 6, the assembly
level code will be ADD 3,6.

LL
Machine languages and assembly languages are also called low level languages.

O
3. High-level language:- is easier to understand and use for the programmer but difficult

C
for the computer. The programs written in high-level languages contain English-like
statements as well as programming.

G
Eg:- C, FORTRAN, Pascal, Java, Python etc. that enables a programmer to write programs.
IN
High level language programs are easier to write, read, and understand. They are easily
portable from one computer to another, since they are not machine-dependent.
R
EE

Example : To add 3 and 6, the high level language code will be 3+6.
Here ‘+’ is the operator for addition.
IN

TRANSLATOR SOFTWARE
The computer can understand only machine code (strings of 0’s and 1’s). Thus when the
G

program is written in other languages (assembly or high-level languages) has to be

EN

converted to machine code. This conversion is called translation and is performed by the
translator software.
The original program is called source code, and the translated code (object code) is the
EA

target code.
There are three types of translator software as discussed below:
M

1. Assembler : is a software that converts a program written in assembly language into

K

machine code.
2. Compiler : is a software that translates programs written in high-level language to
machine code.
3. Interpreter : The interpreter also converts the high-level language program into
machine code. However, the reads the source code line-by-line, converts it into
machine code, executes the line, and then proceeds to the next line.

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MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

Q: Differentiate between Compiler and Interpreter.

E
EG
LL
O
C
G
IN
INTRODUCTION TO PYTHON
R
Python is a general purpose, high-level, interpreted programming language developed by
EE

Guido van Rossum in the late 1980s at the National Research Institute for Mathematics
and Computer Science in the Netherlands. Python is one of the most popular and widely
used programming languages used for a set of tasks including Console based, GUI based,
IN

web programming and data analysis. Python is named after the comedy television show
Monty Python's Flying Circus.
G

FEATURES OF PYTHON
EN
EA
M
K

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MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

APPLICATIONS OF PYTHON

Python is a general purpose programming language. It is widely applied in various fields.

● Data Science : Python libraries like Numpy, Pandas, and Matplotlib are used for
data analysis and visualization.
● Web Applications : Python frameworks like Django, and Pyramid, make the
development and deployment of Web Applications easy.
● Desktop GUI Applications

E
● Software Development

EG
● Scientific and Numeric computations
● Business Applications
● Audio or Video based Applications.

LL
START PROGRAMMING WITH PYTHON

O
There are two major Python versions, those are Python 2 and Python 3. Python 3 is more

C
semantically correct and supports newer features. After successful installation of python
software we can interpret or execute python script / program.

G
Python provides us the two ways to run a python script:
IN
1. Using Interactive interpreter prompt
R
2. Using a script file
EE

Using Interactive interpreter prompt:

IN

Python provides us the feature to execute the python statement one by one at the interactive
prompt. It is preferable in the case where we are concerned about the output of each line of
G

our python program. To open the interactive mode, open the terminal (or command
prompt) and type python3.
EN

Through Command Prompt or Python Shell

EA
M
K

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MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

The Python shell is an interactive terminal-based environment wherein you can directly
communicate with the Python interpreter. First, you open a terminal and type python3.
Now the shell turns up with a welcome message as shown below.
user@Ubuntu2204LTS:~$ python3
Python 3.10.12 (main, Jul 29 2024, 16:56:48) [GCC 11.4.0] on linux
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information

E
The symbol >>> is called the shell prompt. This symbol prompts you for Python
statements. When you enter a statement in the shell, the Python interpreter processes it and

EG
displays the result, if any, then followed by a new prompt as shown below:
>>> "Welcome to the world of Python programming"

LL
'Welcome to the world of Python programming'
>>>

O
Using Script File

C
Interpreter prompt is good to run the individual statements of the code. However if we
want to execute multiple python statements at a time instead of executing one by one, then

G
we can use script files. We need to write our script into a file which can be executed later.
IN
For this purpose, open an editor like notepad, create a file named filename.py (python used
.py extension) and write the python script in it.
R
EE
IN
G
EN

Running as a script
EA

1. Combine all the statements that you wish to execute into a Python program.
Program is known as a script and should be saved with the “py” extension, for
example sample.py.
M

2. You may use some text editor to create your script. gedit, vim are some of the
K

editors that you can probably use.

3. Then open a terminal in the directory where the script is stored. To run your script
(assuming the name is First.py), just give
python3 First.py
Now the script will be executed and you get the desired output.

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MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

Example : Suppose you have written a script sample.py to display the message “My first
Python program!”. This is how you run it (The second line below shows the output):
user@Ubuntu2204LTS:~$ python3 First.py
My first Python program!

Comments in Python
● Comments are used in a programming language to describe the program or to hide

E
some part of code from the interpreter.

EG
● Comment is not a part of the program, but it enhances the interactivity of the
program and makes the program readable.
● Python supports two types of comments:

LL
1. Single Line Comment
2. Multi Line Comment

O
C
G
IN
R
EE
IN
G
EN
EA

Python Character Sets

A character set is a set of valid characters acceptable by a programming language in
M

scripting.
K

Character set
● Alphabets: All capital (A-Z) and small (a-z) alphabets.
● Digits: All digits 0-9.
● Special Symbols: Python supports all kind of special symbols like, ” ‘ l ; : ! ~ @ # $
%^`&*()_+–={}[]\
● White Spaces: White spaces like tab space, blank space, newline, and carriage return.

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MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

Python tokens
● A token is the smallest individual unit in a python program.
● All statements and instructions in a program are built with tokens.
● The various tokens in python are :

E
EG
LL
O
C
G
1. Keyword (Reserved words)
IN
● Keywords are words that have some special meaning or significance in a
R
programming language.
● They can’t be used as variable names, function names, or for any other random
EE

purpose.
IN
G
EN
EA
M

2. Identifiers
● Identifiers are the names given to any variable, function, class, list, methods, etc. for
K

their identification.
● Python has some rules and regulations to name an identifier.
● Rules to name an identifier:-
■ Python is case-sensitive. So case matters in naming identifiers. And hence
geeks and Geeks are two different identifiers.
■ Identifiers start with a capital letter (A-Z) , a small letter (az) or an

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MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

underscore( _ ).
■ It can’t start with any other character.
■ Except for letters and underscore, digits can also be a part of an identifier but
can’t be the first character of it.
■ Any other special characters or whitespaces are strictly prohibited in an
identifier.
■ An identifier can’t be a keyword.

E
EG
LL
O
C
G
IN
Creating and using variables in Python
R
Variable in Python
● A variable is a named memory location in which we can store values for the
EE

particular program. In other words, Variable is a name which is used to refer to

memory location.
IN

● Variable also known as identifier and used to hold value.

● In Python, when we assign any value to the variable that variable is declared
G

automatically. Also, we don't need to specify the type of variable in Python.

EN
EA
M
K

EXAMPLE

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MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

E
EG
● Python allows us to assign a value to multiple variables and multiple values to
multiple variables in a single statement which is also known as multiple assignment.

LL
EXAMPLE

O
C
G
IN
R
EE
IN
G

3. Literals (Constants)
EN

● Python literals are a data type and can hold any value type, such as strings, numbers,
and more
● The way of using literals depends on its type.
EA

● The various types of literals used in the Python program are as follows:
■ String literals
■ Numeric literals - integer, float, complex
M

■ Boolean literals
■ Literal Collections - list, tuple, set, dictionary
K

Numeric and String data types in Python

4. Data Types
● Data Types specifies what type of data will be stored in variables.
● Variables can hold values of different data types.
● Python is dynamically typed, hence we need not define the type of the variable
while declaring it.

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MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

● The interpreter implicitly binds the value with its type.

● Python provides us the type () function which enables us to check the type of the
variable.

E
EG
LL
O
C
G
IN
A. Numeric datatype
R
● The numeric data type in Python represents the data that has a numeric value.
● A numeric value can be an integer, a floating number, or even a complex
EE

number.
● There are three numeric types in Python:
IN

1. int
2. float
G

3. complex
EN
EA
M
K

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MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

EXAMPLE

PROGRAM

num1 = 5
print(num1, 'is of type', type(num1))
num2 = 2.0

E
print(num2, 'is of type', type(num2))

EG
num3 = 1 + 2j
print(num3, 'is of type', type(num3))

LL
OUTPUT

5 is of type <class 'int'>

O
2.0 is of type <class 'float'>

C
(1+2j) is of type <class 'complex'>

G
Type Conversion in Python IN
● Python provides Explicit type conversion functions to directly convert one data
type to another. It is also called as Type Casting in Python
R

● Python supports following functions

EE

1. int() : This function converts any data type to integer.

2. float() : This function is used to convert any data type to a floating point
IN

number.
3. str() : This function is used to convert any data type to a string.
G

EXAMPLE
EN
EA
M
K

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MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

Escape sequence

The escape sequence is a sequence of characters treated as special when the Python
interpreter encounters it in the string literal. The escape sequence is represented using the
backslash (‘\’) followed by the character.

E
EG
LL
O
C
G
IN
R
EXAMPLE
EE
IN
G
EN
EA
M
K

B. Sequence Data Types in Python

● The sequence Data Type in Python is the ordered collection of similar or

different Python data types.
● Sequences allow storing of multiple values in an organized and efficient fashion.
● There are several sequence data types of Python:

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MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

■ String
■ List
■ Tuple
a. String:- A string is a collection of one or more characters. Strings are represented by
either single, double or triple quotes.
EXAMPLE

E
EG
LL
O
C
G
IN
R
EE

b. List
List is an ordered sequence of some data written using square brackets([]) and commas(,).
IN

List is mutable (means values in the list can be changed during execution time).
G

EXAMPLE
EN
EA
M
K

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MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

c. Tuple

The tuple is another data type which is a sequence of data similar to a list. But it is
immutable. That means data in a tuple is write-protected. Data in a tuple is written using
parentheses and commas.

EXAMPLE

E
EG
LL
O
C
G
C. Dictionary
IN
Dictionary is an ordered sequence of data of key-value pair form. Dictionaries are written
R
within curly braces in the form key:value.
EE

PROGRAM

capitals = {"USA":"Washington D.C.","France":"Paris", "India"

IN

:"New Delhi"}
print(type(capitals))
G

OUTPUT
EN

<class 'dict'>

D. Set
EA

Set is an unordered collection of unique items defined by values separated by commas

inside braces{}.
M
K

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MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

E. Boolean

Boolean data type that has one of two possible values (usually denoted True and False)
which is intended to represent the two truth values of Boolean algebra.

EXAMPLE

E
EG
LL
O
C
G
IN
R

Using the math module

EE

● A module is a logical organization of Python code. Related code is grouped into a

IN

module which makes the code easier to understand and use.

● Math module is an in-built Python library made to simplify mathematical tasks in
G

Python.
● It consists of various mathematical constants and functions that can be used after
EN

importing the math module.

● To use math function, command given below is used
EA

import math
● Various functions in math module are:-
M

NUMERIC FUNCTIONS
K

1. math.sqrt()
The math.sqrt() method returns the square root of a given number.
>>>math.sqrt(100)
10.0
>>>math.sqrt(3)
1.7320508075688772

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2. math.ceil()

The ceil() function approximates the given number to the smallest integer,
greater than or equal to the given floating point number.
>>>math.ceil(4.5867)
5

3. math.floor()

E
EG
The floor() function returns the largest integer less than or equal to the given
number.
>>>math.floor(4.5687)

LL
4

O
4. math.fabs()

C
Returns the absolute value of x
>>> math.fabs(-5.5)

G
5.5 IN
5. math.pi()
R

constant, returns the value of PI (3.14...)

EE

>>>x = math.pi
>>>print(x)
IN

3.14…
G

6. math.factorial()
EN

Used for finding factorial of a given in a single line

>>>a=5
>>>print(“The factorial of” a “ is”,math.factorial(a))
EA

The factorial of a 5 is 120

M

7. math.gcd()
K

Used to find the greatest common divisor of two numbers

>>>a = 15
>>>b = 5
>>>print ("The gcd of 5 and 15 is : ")
>>>print (math.gcd(b, a))
The gcd of 5 and 15 is : 5

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LOGARITHMIC AND POWER FUNCTION

8. math.exp()

Used to calculate the power of e

>>>test = 4
>>>print (math.exp(test))
54.598150033144236

E
9. math.pow()

EG
The math.pow() method receives two float arguments, raises the first to the
second and returns the result. In other words, pow(2,3) is equivalent to 2**3.

LL
>>>math.pow(2,4)
16.0

O
C
10. math.log()
Used to calculate the logarithmic value of a with base b

G
>>>print ("The value of log 2 with base 3 is : ")
IN
>>>print (math.log(2,3))
The value of log 2 with base 3 is : 0.6309297535714574
R
EE

TRIGONOMETRIC AND ANGULAR FUNCTION

sin(), cos(), and tan() functions return the sine, cosine, and tangent of value passed as
IN

the argument.
PROGRAM
G

import math
EN

a = math.pi/6
print ("The value of sine of pi/6 is : ", end="")
print (math.sin(a))
EA

print ("The value of cosine of pi/6 is : ", end="")

print (math.cos(a))
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print ("The value of tangent of pi/6 is : ", end="")

print (math.tan(a))
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OUTPUT

The value of sine of pi/6 is : 0.49999999999999994

The value of cosine of pi/6 is : 0.8660254037844387
The value of tangent of pi/6 is : 0.5773502691896257

40 Prepared by, Shabana V Subair, Asst. Prof., KMEA Engg.

College
MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

Using the Python Standard Library for handling basic I/O - input(),
print()

Python offers us several built-in functions that make it easy to create a program quickly.
Two of the most commonly used built-in functions are the input() and print() functions
that are used for frequent input and output operations, respectively.

E
EG
Python Input
To run an application, programmers often need to obtain input in Python from a user. The

LL
simplest way to do this is to use the input() function. The function pauses program
execution to let the user type a line of information from the keyboard. When the user hits
“Enter”, the input is read and returned as a string.

O
Syntax:-

C
input([<prompt>])
where the prompt is an optional string that we wish to display for the user.

G
IN
R
EXAMPLE
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>>>name = input ('What is your name? - ')

>>>print ('Hello,', name)
IN

What is your name? - John

G

Hello, John
EN

By default, the input() function accepts only string arguments. However, we can convert
this to a number by using the int() of float() functions.
EA

EXAMPLE
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>>>number = input ('What is your number? ')

K

What is your number? 45

>>> number
'45'
>>> int(45)
45
>>> float(45)
45.0

41 Prepared by, Shabana V Subair, Asst. Prof., KMEA Engg. College

MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

Or

>>>price=float(input(“Enter the price of each item”))

>>>print(price)

Enter the price of each item 50

50.0

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EG
For taking multiple inputs from the user in a single line we use the function split().

EXAMPLE

LL
>>>x,y=input(“Enter two numbers: ”).split()

O
>>>print(“No. of boys: ”, x)
>>>print(“No. of girls: ”, y)

C
Enter two numbers: 23 22
No. of boys: 23

G
No. of girls: 22
IN
Python Output
R
EE

Once a program accepts input in Python and processes the data, it needs to present the data
back to the user as output. You can choose to display the data output to the console directly
IN

or show it on a screen.

We use the print() function to display the output data to the (screen).
G
EN

Syntax:-

print(<obj>,...,<obj>)
EA

Using the above syntax, we can pass several objects (<obj>) in the print() function by
separating them with a comma.
M

EXAMPLE
K

>>>print(100)

100

>>>num = 65
>>>print ('The value of the number is', num)

42 Prepared by, Shabana V Subair, Asst. Prof., KMEA Engg.

College
MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

The value of the number is 65

Another Syntax:-
print(*objects, sep=' ', end='\n', file=sys.stdout, flush=False)

EXAMPLE

# Python program to illustrate print()

E
# Passing sep and end parameters

EG
>>>num = 7
>>>print('James Bond ', num, sep = '--> 00', end = '\n\n\n')
>>>a = 2

LL
>>>print('Value of a: ', a, sep = '000', end = '\n')
>>>print('Car', 'Bike', 'Train', 'Plane', sep = ' | ', end = '\n\n')

O
OUTPUT

C
James Bond --> 007

G
IN
R
Value of a: 0002
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Car | Bike | Train | Plane

IN
G

Python operators and their precedence

EN

In Python, operators are special symbols or keywords that carry out operations on values
and python variables. They serve as a basis for expressions, which are used to modify data
EA

and execute computations. Python contains several operators, each with its unique purpose.

Simple answer can be given using the expression 4 + 5 is equal to 9. Here, 4 and 5 are
M

called operands and + is called operator.

K

Types of Python Operators

Python language supports various types of operators, which are:

1. Arithmetic Operators
2. Comparison (Relational) Operators

43 Prepared by, Shabana V Subair, Asst. Prof., KMEA Engg.

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MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

3. Assignment Operators
4. Logical Operators
5. Bitwise Operators
6. Membership Operators
7. Identity Operators

E
EG
LL
O
C
G
IN
1. Python Arithmetic Operators
R
EE

● Mathematical operations including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and

division are commonly carried out using Python arithmetic operators.
IN

● They are compatible with integers, variables, and expressions.

● In addition to the standard arithmetic operators, there are operators for modulus,
G

exponentiation, and floor division.

EN

Operator Name Example

+ Addition 10 + 20 = 30
EA

- Subtraction 20 – 10 = 10
M

* Multiplication 10 * 20 = 200
K

/ Division 20 / 10 = 2

% Modulus 22 % 10 = 2

** Exponent 4**2 = 16

// Floor Division 9//2 = 4

44 Prepared by, Shabana V Subair, Asst. Prof., KMEA Engg.

College
MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

Example of Python Arithmetic Operators

a = 21
b = 10
# Addition

E
print ("a + b : ", a + b)

EG
# Subtraction
print ("a - b : ", a - b)

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# Multiplication
print ("a * b : ", a * b)
# Division

O
print ("a / b : ", a / b)

C
# Modulus

G
print ("a % b : ", a % b)
# Exponent
IN
print ("a ** b : ", a ** b)
# Floor Division
R

print ("a // b : ", a // b)

EE

This code defines the two variables "a" and "b." It then applies several arithmetic
IN

operations to them (including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, modulus,

exponentiation, and floor division) and outputs the results.
G

Output
EN

a + b : 31
a - b : 11
EA

a * b : 210
a / b : 2.1
a%b:1
M

a ** b : 16679880978201
K

a // b : 2

2. Python Comparison Operators

● To compare two values, Python comparison operators are needed.

● Based on the comparison, they produce a Boolean value (True or False).

45 Prepared by, Shabana V Subair, Asst. Prof., KMEA Engg.

College
MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

Operator Name Example

== Equal 4 == 5 is not true.

!= Not Equal 4 != 5 is true.

> Greater Than 4 > 5 is not true

< Less Than 4 < 5 is true

E
EG
>= Greater than or Equal to 4 >= 5 is not true.

<= Less than or Equal to 4 <= 5 is true.

LL
Example of Python Comparison Operators

O
a=4
b=5

C
# Equal

G
print ("a == b : ", a == b)
# Not Equal
IN
print ("a != b : ", a != b)
R
# Greater Than
print ("a > b : ", a > b)
EE

# Less Than
print ("a < b : ", a < b)
IN

# Greater Than or Equal to

print ("a >= b : ", a >= b)
G

# Less Than or Equal to

EN

print ("a <= b : ", a <= b)

This code compares the values of python variables 'a' and 'b' and prints if they are equal,
EA

not equal, greater than, less than, more than or equal to, and less than or equal to each
other.
M

Output
K

a == b : False
a != b : True
a > b : False
a < b : True
a >= b : False
a <= b : True

46 Prepared by, Shabana V Subair, Asst. Prof., KMEA Engg.

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MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

3. Python Assignment Operators

● Python assignment operators are used to assign values to variables in Python.

● The single equal symbol (=) is the most fundamental assignment operator.
● It assigns the value on the operator's right side to the variable on the operator's left
side.

E
Operator Name Example

EG
= Assignment Operator a = 10

LL
+= Addition Assignment a += 5 (Same as a = a + 5)

-= Subtraction Assignment a -= 5 (Same as a = a - 5)

O
C
*= Multiplication Assignment a *= 5 (Same as a = a * 5)

/= Division Assignment a /= 5 (Same as a = a / 5)

G
%= Remainder Assignment
IN a %= 5 (Same as a = a % 5)

**= Exponent Assignment a **= 2 (Same as a = a ** 2)

R
EE

//= Floor Division Assignment a //= 3 (Same as a = a // 3)

Example of Python Assignment Operators

IN

# Assignment Operator
G

a = 10
# Addition Assignment
EN

a += 5
print ("a += 5 : ", a)
EA

# Subtraction Assignment
a -= 5
print ("a -= 5 : ", a)
M

# Multiplication Assignment
K

a *= 5
print ("a *= 5 : ", a)
# Division Assignment
a /= 5
print ("a /= 5 : ",a)
# Remainder Assignment

47 Prepared by, Shabana V Subair, Asst. Prof., KMEA Engg. College

MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

a %= 3
print ("a %= 3 : ", a)
# Exponent Assignment
a **= 2
print ("a **= 2 : ", a)
# Floor Division Assignment
a //= 3

E
print ("a //= 3 : ", a)

EG
The Python assignment operators are shown in this code in the Python Editor. It begins
with the value of 'a' equal to 10, and then goes through the steps of addition, subtraction,

LL
multiplication, division, remainder, exponentiation, and floor division, updating 'a' as
necessary and outputting the results.

O
Output

C
a += 5 : 105

G
a -= 5 : 100 IN
a *= 5 : 500
a /= 5 : 100.0
R
a %= 3 : 1.0
EE

a **= 2 : 1.0
a //= 3 : 0.0
IN

4. Python Bitwise Operators

G

● Python bitwise operators execute operations on individual bits of binary integers.

EN

● They work with integer binary representations, performing logical operations on

each bit location.
● Python includes various bitwise operators, such as AND (&), OR (|), NOT (), XOR
EA

(), left shift (), and right shift (>>).

M

Operator Name Example

K

& Binary AND Sets each bit to 1 if both bits are 1

| Binary OR Sets each bit to 1 if one of the two bits is 1

^ Binary XOR Sets each bit to 1 if only one of two bits is 1

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College
MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

~ Binary Ones Inverts all the bits

Complement

<< Binary Left Shift Shift left by pushing zeros in from the right and let
the leftmost bits fall off

>> Binary Right Shift Shift right by pushing copies of the leftmost bit in
from the left, and let the rightmost bits fall off

E
EG
Example of Python Bitwise Operators
a = 60 # 60 = 0011 1100

LL
b = 13 # 13 = 0000 1101
# Binary AND
c=a&b # 12 = 0000 1100

O
print ("a & b : ", c)

C
# Binary OR

G
c=a|b # 61 = 0011 1101
print ("a | b : ", c)
IN
# Binary XOR
c=a^b # 49 = 0011 0001
R

print ("a ^ b : ", c)

EE

# Binary Ones Complement

c = ~a # -61 = 1100 0011
IN

print ("~a : ", c)

# Binary Left Shift
G

c = a << 2; # 240 = 1111 0000

EN

print ("a << 2 : ", c)

# Binary Right Shift
c = a >> 2; # 15 = 0000 1111
EA

print ("a >> 2 : ", c)

The binary representations of the numbers 'a and b' are subjected to bitwise operations in
M

this code. It displays the results of binary AND, OR, XOR, Ones Complement, Left Shift,
and Right Shift operations.
K

Output
a & b : 12
a | b : 61
a ^ b : 49
~a : -61

49 Prepared by, Shabana V Subair, Asst. Prof., KMEA Engg.

College
MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

a >> 2 : 240
a >> 2 : 15

5. Python Logical Operators

● Python logical operators are used to compose Boolean expressions and evaluate
their truth values.

E
● They are required for the creation of conditional statements as well as for managing
the flow of execution in programs.

EG
● Python has three basic logical operators: AND, OR, and NOT.

LL
Operator Description Example

and Logical If both of the operands are true then the condition (a and b) is true.

O
AND becomes true.

C
or Logical OR If any of the two operands is non-zero then the (a or b) is true.

G
condition becomes true. IN
not Logical Used to reverse the logical state of its operand Not(a and b) is
NOT false.
R
EE

Example of Python Logical Operators

x=5
y = 10
IN

if x > 3 and y < 15:

G

print("Both x and y are within the specified range")

EN

The code assigns the values 5 and 10 to variables x and y. It determines whether x is larger
than 3 and y is less than 15. If both conditions are met, it writes "Both x and y are within
the specified range."
EA

Output
M

Both x and y are within the specified range

K

6. Python Membership Operators

● Python membership operators are used to determine whether or not a certain value
occurs within a sequence.
● They make it simple to determine the membership of elements in various Python
data structures such as lists, tuples, sets, and strings.

50 Prepared by, Shabana V Subair, Asst. Prof., KMEA Engg.

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MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

● Python has two primary membership operators: the in and not in operators.

Operator Description Example

in Evaluates to true if it finds a variable in x in y, here in results in a 1 if x

the specified sequence and false is a member of sequence y.
otherwise.

E
not in Evaluates to true if it does not find a x not in y, here not in results in

EG
variable in the specified sequence and a 1 if x is not a member of
false otherwise. sequence y.

LL
Example of Python Membership Operators
fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]

O
print(“banana” in fruits)

C
The code defines a list of fruits and tests to see if the word "banana" appears in the list. If it
is present, “True” is printed on screen.

G
Output
IN
True
R
EE

7. Python Identity Operators

● Python identity operators are used to compare two objects' memory addresses rather
IN

than their values.

● If the two objects refer to the same memory address, they evaluate to True;
G

otherwise, they evaluate to False.

EN

● Python includes two identity operators: the is and is not operators.

Operator Description Example

EA

is Evaluates to true if the variables on either x is y, here are results in 1

M

side of the operator point to the same object if id(x) equals id(y)
and false otherwise
K

is not Evaluates to false if the variables on either x is not y, there are no

side of the operator point to the same object results in 1 if id(x) is not
and true otherwise equal to id(y).

Example of Python Identity Operators

x = 10

51 Prepared by, Shabana V Subair, Asst. Prof., KMEA Engg. College

MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

y=5
print(x is y)
The code sets the variables x and y to 10 and 5, respectively. Then check whether the both
values are equal using is operator. If correct, True value will be displayed else false value.

Output
False

E
EG
OPERATOR PRECEDENCE

When an expression or statement involves multiple operators then it will be resolve using

LL
the following operator precedence chart :

O
C
G
IN
R
EE
IN
G
EN
EA
M

Example 5.4. Consider the assignment statement

R = A + 3 < B ∗ 1 or C and D
K

Let the values of the variables be A = 1, B = 5, C = −1, andD = True. Fig-

ure 5.1 shows the structure of the evaluation. The numbers shown in the circle

denote the order in which the various operators are applied. The final result is
1, which is assigned to R.

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MODULE 1 UCEST105: Algorithmic thinking with Python

E
EG
LL
O
C
G
IN
R
EE
IN
G
EN
EA
M
K

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