CHAPTER 5
GETTING STARTED WITH PYTHON
Fill in the Blanks
1. Python is a high level language.
2. Python's two working modes are : interactive mode
and script mode.
3. The shortcut key to run a Python program from script mode
is F5.
4. Python programs/scripts are stored in files with .py extension.
5. Python's default distribution's IDE is called IDLE.
True/False Questions
1. Python is the fastest language. False
2. Python code is compiled before running.False
3. You can create programs in Python's interactive mode.False
4. You can create programs in Python's script mode.True
5. Python is an interpreted language. True
Type A: Short Answer Questions
1. When was Python released ?
Python was developed in February 1991.
2. Who was Python's developer and which two languages
contributed to Python as a programming language?
Guido Van Rossum is the developer of Python. ABC
language and Modula-3 contributed to Python as a programming
language.
3. What is a cross-platform software?
A cross-platform software is a software that can run well
on a variety of platforms like Windows, Linux/Unix, Macintosh, etc.
4. What are the advantages of Python programming
language?
Advantages of Python programming language are:
1. Easy to Use — Python is compact, programmer-friendly and
very easy to use object oriented language with very simple
syntax rules.
2. Expressive Language — Python is an expressive language, it
takes fewer lines of codes to represent the same syntax.
3. Interpreted Language — Python is an interpreted language,
not a compiled language. It makes Python an easy-to-debug
language and thus suitable for beginners to advanced users.
4. Completeness — Python has a rich standard library that
provides modules for most types of required functionality like
emails, web-pages, databases, GUI development, network
connections, etc.
5. Cross-platform Language — Python can run equally well on
variety of platforms — Windows, Linux/UNIX, Macintosh,
supercomputers, smart phones, etc.
6. Free and Open Source — Python language is freely available
along with its source-code.
7. Variety of Usage/Applications — Python has evolved into a
powerful, complete and useful language over these years.
These days Python is being used in many diverse
fields/applications, some of which are Scripting, Web
Applications, Game development, Database Applications,
System Administrations, Rapid Prototyping, GUI Programs.
5. What are some limitations of Python programming
language?
Some limitations of Python programming language are:
1. Not the Fastest Language — As Python is an interpreted
language so its execution-times are not that fast compared to
some compiled languages.
2. Lesser Libraries than C, Java, Perl — Library collection of C,
Java, Perl is better than Python.
3. Not strong on Type-Binding — Python interpreter is not very
strong on catching 'Type-Mismatch' issues.
4. Not easily convertible — Translating Python programs to
other languages is difficult due to its lack of syntax.
6. In how many different ways, can you work in Python?
We can work in Python in two ways:
1. Interactive mode (also called Immediate mode)
2. Script mode
7. What are advantages/disadvantages of working in Interactive
mode in Python?
Interactive mode is useful for testing code. We can type the
commands one by one and get the result of error immediately for
each command. Disadvantages of Interactive mode are that it does
not save commands in form of a program and also output is
sandwiched between commands.
8. What are the advantages/disadvantages of working in
script mode in Python?
Script mode is useful for creating programs and then run
the programs later and get the complete output. It is not suitable
for testing code.
Type B: Application Based Question
Question 1
Write instructions to get the following result :
Math is Fun so don't be resistant
Just learn the rules, the rules are consistent
And most important, you must be persistent !
Adding fractions, get common denominators.
Multiply by missing factors to get the denominators.
Add numerators only, NOT denominators.
Do it in both interactive mode and script mode.
Answer
Interactive Mode
>>> print("Math is Fun so don't be resistant")
Math is Fun so don't be resistant
>>> print("Just learn the rules, the rules are consistent")
Just learn the rules, the rules are consistent
>>> print("And most important, you must be persistent !")
And most important, you must be persistent !
>>> print("")
>>> print("Adding fractions, get common denominators.")
Adding fractions, get common denominators.
>>> print("Multiply by missing factors to get the denominators.")
Multiply by missing factors to get the denominators.
>>> print("Add numerators only, NOT denominators.")
Add numerators only, NOT denominators.
>>>
Script Mode
Solution
print("Math is Fun so don't be resistant")
print("Just learn the rules, the rules are consistent")
print("And most important, you must be persistent !")
print("")
print("Adding fractions, get common denominators.")
print("Multiply by missing factors to get the denominators.")
print("Add numerators only, NOT denominators.")
Output
Math is Fun so don't be resistant
Just learn the rules, the rules are consistent
And most important, you must be persistent !
Adding fractions, get common denominators.
Multiply by missing factors to get the denominators.
Add numerators only, NOT denominators.
