Week 2 Notes: Python Fundamentals

Course: Object-Oriented Programming Using Python

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this lesson, learners should be able to:

1. Declare and use variables in Python.

2. Identify and use different data types.

3. Accept input from users.

4. Perform calculations using operators.

5. Apply conditional statements to make decisions.

6. Use loops to repeat tasks.

7. Create and use functions.

8. Develop simple Python programs that solve real-world problems.

Introduction

In Week 1, we learned how to write simple Python programs using the print() function.

This week, we will learn how to:

 Store information in memory

 Accept user input

 Perform calculations

 Make decisions

 Repeat tasks

 Organize code using functions

These concepts form the foundation of programming and will prepare us for Object-Oriented
Programming in Week 3.
1. Variables

What is a Variable?

A variable is a named storage location used to hold data in memory.

Think of a variable as a labeled container that stores information.

Example:

Name = John

Age = 20

Course = ICT

In Python:

name = "John"

age = 20

course = "ICT"

Rules for Naming Variables

Valid Variable Names

student_name = "John"

age = 20

course1 = "ICT"

total_marks = 450

Invalid Variable Names

1name = "John"

student-name = "John"

class = "ICT"

Why?

 Cannot start with a number.

 Cannot use Python keywords.

Displaying Variables

name = "John"

age = 20

print(name)

print(age)

Output:

John

20

Example Program

student_name = "Mary"

age = 19

course = "Business Management"

institution = "ABC College"

print("Student Information")

print("---------------------")

print("Name:", student_name)

print("Age:", age)

print("Course:", course)

print("Institution:", institution)

Output:
Student Information

---------------------

Name: Mary

Age: 19

Course: Business Management

Institution: ABC College

2. Data Types

What is a Data Type?

A data type specifies the kind of value stored in a variable.

Common Python Data Types:

Data Type Description Example

str Text/String "John"

int Whole Number 20

float Decimal Number 75.5

bool True/False True

String Data Type

Strings contain text enclosed in quotation marks.

name = "John"

course = "ICT"

print(name)

print(course)

Integer Data Type

age = 18

marks = 450

print(age)

print(marks)

Float Data Type

Stores decimal numbers.

height = 1.75

price = 1500.50

print(height)

print(price)

Boolean Data Type

Stores either True or False.

is_registered = True

fees_cleared = False

print(is_registered)

print(fees_cleared)

Checking Data Types

Use the type() function.

name = "John"
age = 20

height = 1.75

print(type(name))

print(type(age))

print(type(height))

Output:

<class 'str'>

<class 'int'>

<class 'float'>

3. User Input

What is User Input?

User input allows users to enter data while a program is running.

Python uses the input() function.

Example 1

name = input("Enter your name: ")

print("Welcome", name)

Sample Output:

Enter your name: John

Welcome John

Example 2

course = input("Enter your course: ")

print("Course:", course)

print("Institution:", institution)

Example 3: Student Registration

print("STUDENT REGISTRATION")

name = input("Enter student name: ")

age = input("Enter age: ")

course = input("Enter course: ")

print("\nREGISTRATION DETAILS")

print("--------------------")

print("Name:", name)

print("Age:", age)

print("Course:", course)

Output:

STUDENT REGISTRATION

Enter student name: Mary

Enter age: 19

Enter course: ICT

REGISTRATION DETAILS

--------------------
Name: Mary

Age: 19

Course: ICT

4. Operators

What are Operators?

Operators perform calculations and comparisons.

Arithmetic Operators

Operator Meaning

+ Addition

- Subtraction

* Multiplication

/ Division

% Modulus

// Floor Division

** Power

Example Program

num1 = 20

num2 = 10

print("Addition:", num1 + num2)

print("Subtraction:", num1 - num2)

print("Multiplication:", num1 * num2)

print("Division:", num1 / num2)

Addition: 30

Subtraction: 10

Multiplication: 200

Division: 2.0

Student Fee Calculator

tuition_fee = 25000

registration_fee = 2000

library_fee = 1500

total_fee = tuition_fee + registration_fee + library_fee

print("Fee Structure")

print("----------------")

print("Tuition Fee:", tuition_fee)

print("Registration Fee:", registration_fee)

print("Library Fee:", library_fee)

print("Total Fee:", total_fee)

5. Conditional Statements

What is a Conditional Statement?

A conditional statement allows a program to make decisions.

Python uses:

if

elif
else

Example 1

age = 20

if age >= 18:

print("You are an adult")

Example 2

marks = 75

if marks >= 50:

print("Pass")

else:

print("Fail")

Example 3: Student Grade Checker

marks = int(input("Enter marks: "))

if marks >= 80:

print("Grade A")

elif marks >= 70:

print("Grade B")

elif marks >= 60:

elif marks >= 50:

print("Grade D")

else:

print("Fail")

Example 4: Voting Eligibility

age = int(input("Enter your age: "))

if age >= 18:

print("Eligible to vote")

else:

print("Not eligible to vote")

6. Loops

What is a Loop?

A loop repeats a block of code multiple times.

Types of loops:

1. For Loop

2. While Loop

For Loop

Example:

for number in range(1, 6):

Output:

Display Student Numbers

for student in range(1, 11):

print("Student", student)

Output:

Student 1

Student 2

Student 3

...

Student 10

Multiplication Table

number = int(input("Enter a number: "))

for i in range(1, 13):

print(number, "x", i, "=", number * i)

Sample Output:

5x1=5

5 x 2 = 10
5 x 3 = 15

...

5 x 12 = 60

While Loop

Example:

count = 1

while count <= 5:

print(count)

count += 1

Output:

Countdown Program

count = 10

while count >= 1:

print(count)

count -= 1

print("Blast Off!")
7. Functions

What is a Function?

A function is a block of code that performs a specific task.

Functions help avoid repetition.

Creating a Function

def greet():

print("Welcome to Python Programming")

greet()

Output:

Welcome to Python Programming

Function with Parameters

def greet(name):

print("Welcome", name)

greet("John")

greet("Mary")

Output:

Welcome John

Welcome Mary

Function Returning a Value

def add_numbers(num1, num2):

return total

result = add_numbers(10, 20)

print("Total =", result)

Output:

Total = 30

Practical Activity 1: Student Grade Calculator

name = input("Enter student name: ")

marks1 = int(input("Enter CAT marks: "))

marks2 = int(input("Enter Exam marks: "))

total = marks1 + marks2

print("\nRESULTS")

print("Student:", name)

print("Total Marks:", total)

if total >= 50:

print("Status: PASS")

else:

print("Status: FAIL")
Practical Activity 2: Simple Login Program

username = input("Enter username: ")

password = input("Enter password: ")

if username == "admin" and password == "1234":

print("Login Successful")

else:

print("Invalid Username or Password")

Practical Activity 3: Student Registration System

def register_student():

print("STUDENT REGISTRATION SYSTEM")

print("----------------------------")

name = input("Enter student name: ")

age = input("Enter age: ")

course = input("Enter course: ")

print("\nREGISTRATION SUCCESSFUL")

print("------------------------")

print("Name:", name)

print("Age:", age)

print("Course:", course)

register_student()
Common Errors

Syntax Error

print("Hello"

Indentation Error

if age > 18:

print("Adult")

Name Error

print(student_name)

When student_name has not been defined.

Exercises

1. Create a program that stores and displays your personal information.

2. Create a calculator that performs addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

3. Create a grading system using if-elif-else.

4. Create a multiplication table generator.

5. Create a function that calculates the area of a rectangle.

6. Create a login system that checks username and password.

7. Create a student registration system using functions.

Lesson Summary

In this lesson, we learned:

✓ Variables
✓ Data Types
✓ User Input
✓ Arithmetic Operators
✓ Conditional Statements
✓ For Loops
✓ While Loops
✓ Functions

These concepts are essential because they form the foundation upon which we will build our
first Object-Oriented Python program in Week 3: Introduction to OOP, Classes, and Objects.