Stretch tasks Programming Fundamentals in Python

Round 1: Quiz Blitz

1. A string Even when the user types 15, it comes back as text.
2. 3 // is integer division: the whole number part only.
3. 1 % gives the remainder.
4. 3.5 / always gives a float.
5. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 range stops before the second number.
6. False One equals sign assigns. x == 5 compares.
7. In capitals, such as VAT_RATE Python has no constant keyword, so capitals signal one.
8. grade == "A" or grade == "B" Each side of or must be a complete comparison.
9. n % 2 == 0 An even number leaves no remainder when divided by 2.
10. Pass Only the first true condition runs, so the order of the tests matters.
11. The condition's variable has a value before the loop; Something inside the loop can change that variable Miss either and the loop never starts or never ends.
12. float A number with a decimal point is a float.

Round 2: Quick Fire

1. • input() returns a string, which is compared with a number
   • Cast the input with int()
   Model answer

   input() always returns a string, so age holds text such as "18", and comparing text with the number 18 fails. Wrapping the input in int() casts it to an integer: age = int(input("How old are you? ")).

2. • = assigns a value to a variable
   • == compares two values, giving True or False
   Model answer

   A single = assigns a value to a variable, so x = 5 stores 5 in x. A double == compares two values and gives True or False, so x == 5 asks whether x holds 5.

3. • 135 // 60 gives 2 whole minutes
   • 135 % 60 gives the remainder, 15 seconds
   Model answer

   135 // 60 gives 2, the whole number of minutes. 135 % 60 gives the remainder, 15, so the answer is 2 minutes 15 seconds.

4. • Only the first true condition runs, and the rest are skipped
   • An example, such as a mark of 80 getting Pass
   Model answer

   Python tests the conditions from the top and runs only the first one that is true, skipping the rest. If mark >= 40 came before mark >= 70, a mark of 80 would get Pass instead of Distinction.

Round 3: Big Think

1. • A running total set to 0 before the loop
   • The input is cast to an integer
   • A while loop that stops at 0
   • Each number is added to the total
   • Each number is compared with the largest so far
   • The largest starts from the first number
   • The total is printed after the loop
   • The largest is printed after the loop
   Model answer

   PythonCopy

   total = 0
   number = int(input("Enter a whole number, or 0 to stop: "))
   largest = number
   while number != 0:
       total = total + number
       if number > largest:
           largest = number
       number = int(input("Enter a whole number, or 0 to stop: "))
   print("Total:", total)
   print("Largest:", largest)

2. • The conditions are in the wrong order, so a lower test comes first
   • Put the highest condition first
   • input() returns a string
   • Cast it with int()
   • A crash comes from text that cannot be converted, such as a typing slip
   • Validate the entry before converting it
   • Using = instead of == in a condition
   • Indentation errors put lines in the wrong block
   Model answer

   First, the conditions are probably in the wrong order: if mark >= 40 is tested before mark >= 70, every passing mark matches it first, so the highest condition must be tested first. Second, input() returns a string, so the mark must be cast with int() before it is compared with a number. Third, the crash happens when what is typed cannot be converted, such as 8S instead of 85, which makes int() raise a ValueError, so the entry should be validated with isdigit() before it is converted. A single = instead of == in a condition, or wrong indentation that puts a line in the wrong block, would also cause errors.

This or That

1. A string input() always returns text, so it must be cast before arithmetic.
2. No range stops before the second number.
3. 7 % 2 // gives the whole number part. % gives the remainder.
4. = = puts a value into a variable. == compares two values.
5. for A for loop is count controlled. A while loop is condition controlled.
6. bool True is a Boolean value. "True" in quotation marks would be a string.
7. Yes: indentation is the syntax In Python, indentation decides which block a line is inside.
8. An f-string f"You scored {score} out of {total}" reads like the finished sentence.

Memory Match

• A 2 Variable: A named value that can change
• B 1 Constant: A fixed value, written in capitals
• C 6 Casting: Converting a value's data type
• D 5 Modulus: The remainder after division
• E 4 Integer division: Whole number part only
• F 3 f-string: A string with values in braces

Sort It

1. bool True True and False are Booleans.
2. float 68.4 A decimal point makes it a float.
3. str "Amira" Text in quotation marks is a string.
4. int 15 A whole number is an int.
5. bool x == 5 == gives True or False.
6. int 7 // 2 Integer division gives an int.
7. str input() input() always returns a string.
8. int len("hello") len returns a whole number.
9. bool age >= 13 A comparison gives a Boolean.
10. float 7 / 2 / always gives a float.
11. float float("3") float() converts to a float.
12. str "15" In quotation marks, even digits are a string.