Introduction to Computer Science

 Instructor:
 Dr. Quincy Wu ([email protected])
 Textbook:
 John M. Zelle, "Python Programming: An Introduction to
Computer Science", Franklin Beedle & Associates Inc.; 3rd
Edition (Aug 2016). ISBN: 978-1-59028-2-755.
 Evaluation:
 Quiz (0%)
 Exercise & Homework (60%)
 Midterm Exam (20%)
 Final Exam (20%)

Python Programming, 2/e 1

Spend 3 + 6 Hours in a Week
 Before a class
 Reading - textbook, online articles
 Before-class exercise

 Three-hour class
You are encouraged
to raise questions.
 After a class
 Homework

Python Programming, 2/e 2

Python Programming:
An Introduction to
Computer Science

Chapter 1
Computers and Programs

Python Programming, 2/e 3

Objectives
 To understand the respective roles of
hardware and software in a computing
system.
 To learn what computer scientists study
and the techniques that they use.
 To understand the basic design of a
modern computer.

Python Programming, 2/e 4

Objectives (cont.)
 To understand the form and function of
computer programming languages.
 To begin using the Python
programming language.
 To learn about chaotic models and their
implications for computing.

Python Programming, 2/e 5

A Few Suggestions
 Take notes
 Think about it.
 Practice
 Practice again.
 Teach it.
 Identify your weakness and try to
improve.
Python Programming, 2/e 6
The Universal Machine
 A modern computer can be defined as
“a machine that stores and manipulates
information under the control of a
changeable program.”
 Two key elements:
 Computers are devices for manipulating
information.
 Computers operate under the control of a
changeable program.
Python Programming, 2/e 7
Von Neumann Model

Keyboard Monitor
Mouse Printer
Microphone Speaker

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Neumann_architecture
Python Programming, 2/e 8
The Universal Machine
 What is a computer program?
 A detailed, step-by-step set of instructions
telling a computer what to do.
 If we change the program, the computer
performs a different set of actions or a
different task.
 The machine stays the same, but the
program changes!

Python Programming, 2/e 14

The Universal Machine
 Programs are executed, or carried out.
 All computers have the same power,
with suitable programming, i.e. each
computer can do the things any other
computer can do.
 Maybe only faster or slower.

Python Programming, 2/e 15

Homework
 Read some articles about Charles
Babbage (1791-1871) and write down a
paragraph describing his contribution
that makes him considered a “father of
the computer”.
 Include the hyperlinks to the articles which
you read.

Python Programming, 2/e 16

Program Power
 Software (programs) rule the hardware
(the physical machine).
 The process of creating this software is
called programming.
 Why learn to program?
 Fundamental part of computer science
 Having an understanding of programming
helps you have an understanding of the
strengths and limitations of computers. 17
Python Programming, 2/e
Program Power
 Helps you become a more intelligent user of
computers
 It can be fun!
 Form of expression
 Helps the development of problem solving
skills, especially in analyzing complex systems
by reducing them to interactions between
simpler systems.
 Programmers are in great demand!
 A lucrative career option

Python Programming, 2/e 18

What is Computer Science?
 It is not the study of computers!
“Computers are to computer science
what telescopes are to astronomy.” –
E. Dijkstra
 The question becomes, “What
processes can be described?”
 This question is really, “What can be
computed?”

Python Programming, 2/e 19

What is Computer Science?
 Design
 One way to show a particular problem can
be solved is to actually design a solution.
 This is done by developing an algorithm, a
step-by-step process for achieving the
desired result.
 One problem – it can only answer in the
positive. You can’t prove a negative!

Python Programming, 2/e 20

What is Computer Science?
 Analysis
 Analysis is the process of examining
algorithms and problems mathematically.
 Some seemingly simple problems are not
solvable by any algorithm. These problems
are said to be unsolvable.
 Problems can be intractable if they would
take too long or take too much memory to
be of practical value.
Python Programming, 2/e 21
What is Computer Science?
 Experimentation
 Some problems are too complex for
analysis.
 Implement a system and then study its
behavior.

Python Programming, 2/e 22

Programming Languages
 Natural language has ambiguity and
imprecision problems when used to describe
complex algorithms.
 I saw the man in the park with the telescope.
 Programs expressed in an unambiguous ,
precise way using programming languages.
 Every structure in programming language has a
precise form, called its syntax
 Every structure in programming language has a
precise meaning, called its semantics.

Python Programming, 2/e 23

Programming Languages
 Programming language is like a code for
writing the instructions the computer
will follow.
 Programmers will often refer to their
program as computer code.
 Process of writing an algorithm in a
programming language often called coding.

Python Programming, 2/e 24

Programming Languages
 High-level computer languages
 Designed to be used and understood by
humans
 if (score > 60) print("You pass!")
 Low-level language
 Computer hardware can only understand a
very low level language known as machine
language
 0010 0006 3C10 0300 0005

Python Programming, 2/e 25

Low-Level Languages
 Add two numbers:
 Load the number from memory location
2001 into the CPU
 Load the number from memory location
2002 into the CPU
 Add the two numbers in the CPU
 Store the result into location 2003
 In reality, these low-level instructions
are represented in binary (1’s and 0’s)
Python Programming, 2/e 26
High-Level Languages
 High-level language
c=a+b
 This needs to be translated into
machine language that the computer
can execute.
 Compilers convert programs written in a
high-level language into the machine
language of some computer.

Python Programming, 2/e 27

 Figure 1.2: Compiling a high-
level Language

Source Compiler Machine

Code Code
(Program)

Inputs Running Outputs

Program

Python Programming, 2/e 28

Programming Languages
 Interpreters simulate a computer that
understands a high-level language.
 The source program is not translated
into machine language all at once.
 An interpreter analyzes and executes
the source code, instruction by
instruction.

Python Programming, 2/e 29

 Figure 1.3: Interpreting a
high-level language

Source
Code
(Program) Computer
Running
an Outputs
Interpreter

Inputs

Python Programming, 2/e 30

Compiling vs. Interpreting
 Once program is compiled, it can be
executed over and over without the source
code or compiler.
 If it is interpreted, the source code and
interpreter are needed each time the
program runs.

 Compiled programs generally run faster since

the translation of the source code happens
only once.

Python Programming, 2/e 31

The Magic of Python
When you start Python, you will see
something like:
Python 3.4.1 (default, Aug 27 2014, 21:31:32)
[GCC 4.2.1 Compatible FreeBSD Clang 3.3 (tags/RELEASE_33/final 183502)] on freebsd10
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>>

Python Programming, 2/e 33

The Magic of Python
 The “>>>” is a Python prompt indicating that
Python is ready for us to give it a command.
These commands are called statements.
 >>> print("Hello, world“)
Hello, world
>>> print(2+3)
5
>>> print("2+3=", 2+3)
2+3= 5
>>>

Python Programming, 2/e 34

The Magic of Python
 Usually we want to execute several
statements together that solve a
common problem. One way to do this is
to use a function.
 >>> def hello():
print("Hello")
print("Computers are Fun")

>>>

Python Programming, 2/e 35

The Magic of Python
 >>> def hello():
print("Hello")
print("Computers are Fun")

>>>
 The first line tells Python we are defining a
new function called hello.
 The following lines are indented to show that
they are part of the hello function.
 The blank line (hit <Enter> twice) lets
Python know the definition is finished.
Python Programming, 2/e 36
The Magic of Python
 >>> def hello():
print("Hello")
print("Computers are Fun")
>>>
 Notice that nothing has happened yet! We’ve
defined the function, but we haven’t told
Python to perform the function!
 A function is invoked by typing its name.
 >>> hello()
Hello
Computers are Fun
>>>

Python Programming, 2/e 37

The Magic of Python
 What’s the deal with the ()’s?
 Commands can have changeable parts
called parameters that are placed
between the ()’s.
 >>> def greet(person):
print("Hello",person)
print ("How are you?")

>>>

Python Programming, 2/e 38

The Magic of Python
 >>> greet("Terry")
Hello Terry
How are you?
>>> greet("Paula")
Hello Paula
How are you?
>>>
 When we use parameters, we can
customize the output of our function.

Python Programming, 2/e 39

The Magic of Python
 When we exit the Python prompt, the functions
we’ve defined cease to exist!
 Programs are usually composed of functions,
modules, or scripts that are saved on disk so that
they can be used again and again.
 A module file is a text file created in text editing
software (saved as “plain text”) that contains
function definitions.
 A programming environment is designed to help
programmers write programs and usually includes
automatic indenting, highlighting, etc.

Python Programming, 2/e 40

The Magic of Python
# File: chaos.py
# A simple program illustrating chaotic behavior

def main():
print("This program illustrates a chaotic function")
x = eval(input("Enter a number between 0 and 1: "))
for i in range(10):
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print(x)

main()

 We’ll use filename.py when we save our work

to indicate it’s a Python program.
 In this code we’re defining a new function
called main.
 The main() at the end tells Python to run the
code. Python Programming, 2/e 41
The Magic of Python
>>>
This program illustrates a chaotic function
Enter a number between 0 and 1: .5
0.975
0.0950625
0.335499922266
0.869464925259
0.442633109113
0.962165255337
0.141972779362
0.4750843862
0.972578927537
0.104009713267
>>>

Python Programming, 2/e 42

Inside a Python Program
# File: chaos.py
# A simple program illustrating chaotic behavior

 Lines that start with # are called

comments
 Intended for human readers and
ignored by Python
 Python skips text from # to end of line

Python Programming, 2/e 43

Inside a Python Program
def main():

 Beginning of the definition of a function

called main
 Since our program has only this one
module, it could have been written
without the main function.
 The use of main is customary, however.

Python Programming, 2/e 44

Inside a Python Program
print("This program illustrates a chaotic function")

 This line causes Python to print a

message introducing the program.

Python Programming, 2/e 45

Inside a Python Program
x = eval(input("Enter a number between 0 and 1: "))

 x is an example of a variable
 A variable is used to assign a name to a
value so that we can refer to it later.
 The quoted information is displayed,
and the number typed in response is
stored in x.

Python Programming, 2/e 46

Inside a Python Program
for i in range(10):

 For is a loop construct

 A loop tells Python to repeat the same
thing over and over.
 In this example, the following code will
be repeated 10 times.

Python Programming, 2/e 47

Inside a Python Program
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print(x)

 These lines are the body of the loop.

 The body of the loop is what gets repeated
each time through the loop.
 The body of the loop is identified through
indentation.
 The effect of the loop is the same as repeating
this two lines 10 times!
Python Programming, 2/e 48
Inside a Python Program
for i in range(10): x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print(x)
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x) x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print(x) print(x)
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print(x)
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print(x)

These are
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
 print(x)
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)

equivalent! print(x)
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print(x)
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print(x)
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print(x)
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print(x)

Python Programming, 2/e 49

Inside a Python Program
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)

 This is called an assignment statement

 The part on the right-hand side (RHS) of the
"=" is a mathematical expression.
 * is used to indicate multiplication
 Once the value on the RHS is computed, it is
stored (assigned) back into x

Python Programming, 2/e 50

Inside a Python Program
main()

 This last line tells Python to execute the

code in the function main

Python Programming, 2/e 51

Chaos and Computers
 The chaos.py program:
def main():
print("This program illustrates a chaotic function")
x = eval(input("Enter a number between 0 and 1: "))
for i in range(10):
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print(x)
main()

 For any given input, returns 10 seemingly

random numbers between 0 and 1
 It appears that the value of x is chaotic

Python Programming, 2/e 52

Chaos and Computers
 Input: 0.25  Input: 0.26
0.73125 0.75036
0.76644140625 0.73054749456
0.698135010439 0.767706625733
0.82189581879 0.6954993339
0.570894019197 0.825942040734
0.955398748364 0.560670965721
0.166186721954 0.960644232282
0.540417912062 0.147446875935
0.9686289303 0.490254549376
0.118509010176 0.974629602149
Python Programming, 2/e 54
Hands-On
 Edit a file which stores your Python
program
 nano chaos.py
 Run the program
 python chaos.py

Python Programming, 2/e 55