Python Basics Complete Notes
Uploaded by
attaullahanwar63056Python Basics Complete Notes
Uploaded by
attaullahanwar63056Python Basics — Complete Notes
Attaullah's Python Foundation: Variables through Nested Loops
1. Variables, Input, and Print
Variables store values. input() always returns a string, so numbers must be converted using int() or float().
name = input("Enter your name ")
age = int(input("Enter your age "))
print(f"My name is {name} I am {age} years old")
Note: str() around input() is redundant since input() already returns a string.
f-strings
The letter f before a string tells Python to evaluate whatever is inside curly braces {} instead of treating it as
plain text.
name = "Ali"
print(f"My name is {name}") # My name is Ali
print("My name is {name}") # My name is {name} (no f, prints literally)
2. Type Conversion
The + operator behaves differently based on type: for strings it concatenates (joins text), for numbers it adds.
num_1 = input("Enter first number ")
num_2 = input("Enter second number ")
print(num_1 + num_2) # "5" + "3" = "53" (string joining, NOT math)
num_1 = int(input("Enter first number "))
num_2 = int(input("Enter second number "))
print(num_1 + num_2) # 5 + 3 = 8 (real addition)
3. Arithmetic Operators
Operator Meaning Example (10, 3)
+ Addition 13
- Subtraction 7
* Multiplication 30
/ Division (float) 3.333...
// Floor division (whole number) 3
% Modulus (remainder) 1
Note: % (modulus) is used constantly for even/odd checks: if num % 2 == 0: means even.
4. Comparison and Logical Operators
>= <= > < == != # comparison operators
and # True only if BOTH sides are True
or # True if EITHER side is True
not # flips True/False
age = 20
if age >= 18 and age <= 60:
print("Working age")
if age < 18 or age > 60:
print("Outside working age")
5. float, bool, type()
price = float(input("Enter price: ")) # decimal numbers
is_student = True # bool: True / False
print(type(age)) # <class 'int'>
6. Basic String Methods
name = "Attaullah"
print(len(name)) # 8 (number of characters)
print([Link]()) # ATTAULLAH
print([Link]()) # attaullah
7. Conditionals: if / elif / else
marks = int(input("Enter your marks: "))
if marks >= 90:
print("Grade A")
elif marks >= 80:
print("Grade B")
elif marks >= 70:
print("Grade C")
elif marks >= 60:
print("Grade D")
else:
print("Fail")
Note: With elif, you don't need upper-bound checks (like marks<90) because Python only reaches an elif if all above
it were False.
8. Loops — while and for
while loop
Repeats code AS LONG AS a condition stays True.
count = 1
while count <= 5:
print(count)
count += 1
# Output: 1 2 3 4 5
Note: If you forget to update the loop variable (count += 1), the condition never becomes False -> INFINITE LOOP.
for loop with range()
range(start, stop, step) generates numbers starting at 'start', stopping BEFORE 'stop'.
range(5) # 0,1,2,3,4 (starts at 0, stops before 5)
range(2, 6) # 2,3,4,5 (starts at 2, stops before 6)
range(0, 10, 2) # 0,2,4,6,8 (step of 2)
for i in range(1, 11):
print(i) # prints 1 through 10
break and continue
for i in range(10):
if i == 5:
break # exits the loop completely
print(i)
# Output: 0 1 2 3 4
for i in range(5):
if i == 2:
continue # skips just this one iteration
print(i)
# Output: 0 1 3 4
else with loops
Runs only if the loop finishes WITHOUT hitting break.
for i in range(5):
print(i)
else:
print("Loop finished without break")
9. Common Loop Mistakes (from practice)
Mistake 1: Wrong starting value changes the whole sequence.
# Wanted even numbers 2-20, but started at 1 -> got odd numbers instead
i = 1
while i <= 20:
print(i)
i += 2 # BUG: gives 1,3,5,7... not 2,4,6,8...
# FIX: start at i = 2
Mistake 2: Increment placed inside an if-block causes infinite loops.
i = 1
while i <= 20:
if i % 2 == 0:
print(i)
i += 1 # BUG: i only increases when even -> stuck forever at i=1
# FIX: move i += 1 OUTSIDE the if, so it runs every iteration
10. Nested Loops
A loop inside another loop. The RULE: the inner loop runs COMPLETELY through all its values before the
outer loop moves to its next value.
for i in range(1, 4): # outer: i = 1, 2, 3
for j in range(1, 3): # inner: j = 1, 2 (every time)
print(i, j)
# Output:
# 1 1
# 1 2
# 2 1
# 2 2
# 3 1
# 3 2
Note: i stays FROZEN for the entire inner loop. It only changes after ALL j-values are used up.
Classic bug: reusing the same variable name
# WRONG - inner loop overwrites outer loop's variable
for i in range(1,6):
for i in range(1,5): # BUG: should be 'j', not 'i'
print(i)
# CORRECT
for i in range(1,6):
for j in range(1,5):
print(j)
The 4-Step Method for finding inner loop range
This is the reliable method built during practice for figuring out any nested loop pattern:
STEP 1 - COUNT: How many items appear in each row of the pattern?
Build a table: i vs count
STEP 2 - FORMULA: Compare i to count in the table.
- Are they equal? -> count = i
- Goes up/down by 1? -> count = i + k or count = k - i
- Doubles/triples? -> count = k * i
- Stays constant? -> count = fixed number
Solve for k using ONE row, then verify with the rest.
STEP 3 - CONVERT TO RANGE (fixed rule, NEVER changes):
range(1, 1 + count)
(because range(1, N) always gives N-1 values, so add 1 back)
STEP 4 - VERIFY: Plug in each i value and confirm it matches the pattern.
Worked Example: Triangle Pattern
Pattern:
1
1 2
1 2 3
1 2 3 4
Step 1: counts are 1,2,3,4 for i=1,2,3,4. Step 2: count = i (identical, no extra number needed). Step 3: range(1,
i+1). Step 4: verified correct for every row.
for i in range(1, 5):
for j in range(1, i + 1):
print(j, end=" ")
print()
Worked Example: Decreasing Pattern
Pattern:
X X X X X
X X X X
X X X
X X
X
Step 1: counts are 5,4,3,2,1. Step 2: count goes down by 1 as i goes up -> count = k - i. Test i=1: 5 = k-1 ->
k=6, so count = 6-i. Step 3: range(1, 7-i). Step 4: verified.
for i in range(1, 6):
for j in range(1, 7 - i):
print('*', end=" ")
print()
Worked Example: Multiplying Pattern
Pattern:
X X
X X X X
X X X X X X
Step 1: counts are 2,4,6. Step 2: count doubles i -> count = 2*i. Step 3: range(1, 1+2*i). Step 4: verified (2,4,6
match).
for i in range(1, 4):
for j in range(1, 1 + 2*i):
print('*', end=" ")
print()
Deciding WHAT to print (i, j, or a formula)
This is a separate skill from finding the range. Four cases seen in practice:
1. Counting/changing numbers in the row -> print(j)
Example: 1 2 3 -> for j in range(1,4): print(j)
2. Same number as the row number, repeated -> print(i)
Example: 2 2 (row i=2) -> for j in range(1,3): print(i)
3. Fixed literal value, unrelated to row -> print the literal
Example: 3 3 3 (always 3, never changes) -> print(3)
4. Shifted / combined value -> print a formula using i and j
Example: row i=1 -> "1 2", row i=2 -> "2 3"
-> print(i + j - 1)
Note: There is no single universal formula for 'what to print' - it requires reading the actual numbers in the pattern
each time, unlike the range formula which is always fixed.
11. Coming Up Next
Lists, tuples, dictionaries, and functions (def) - the next stages of the roadmap, building directly on the loop
skills covered here since looping through lists is one of the most common patterns in Python.