2 Introduction to Python Programming

Objectives

In this chapter, you’ll:

• Continue using IPython interactive mode to enter code snippets and see their results immediately.

• Write simple Python statements and scripts.

• Create variables to store data for later use.

• Become familiar with built-in data types.

• Use arithmetic operators and comparison operators, and understand their precedence.

• Use single-, double- and triple-quoted strings.

• Use built-in function print to display text.

• Use built-in function input to prompt the user to enter data at the keyboard and get that data for use in the program.

• Convert text to integer values with built-in function int.

• Use comparison operators and the if statement to decide whether to execute a statement or group of statements.

• Learn about objects and Python’s dynamic typing.

• Use built-in function type to get an object’s type.

Outline

1. 2.1 Introduction

2. 2.2 Variables and Assignment Statements

3. 2.3 Arithmetic

4. 2.4 Function print and an Intro to Single- and Double-Quoted Strings

5. 2.5 Triple-Quoted Strings

6. 2.6 Getting Input from the User

7. 2.7 Decision Making: The if Statement and Comparison Operators

8. 2.8 Objects and Dynamic Typing

9. 2.9 Intro to Data Science: Basic Descriptive Statistics

10. 2.10 Wrap-Up

1. Exercises