Introduction to Computer Science
Instructor:
Dr. Quincy Wu (solomon@ncnu.edu.tw)
Textbook:
John M. Zelle, "Python Programming: An Introduction to
Computer Science", Franklin Beedle & Associates Inc.; 3rd
Edition (Aug 2016). ISBN: 978-1-59028-2-755.
Evaluation:
Quiz (0%)
Exercise & Homework (60%)
Midterm Exam (20%)
Final Exam (20%)
Python Programming, 2/e 1
Spend 3 + 6 Hours in a Week
Before a class
Reading - textbook, online articles
Before-class exercise
Three-hour class
You are encouraged
to raise questions.
After a class
Homework
Python Programming, 2/e 2
Python Programming:
An Introduction to
Computer Science
Chapter 1
Computers and Programs
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Objectives
To understand the respective roles of
hardware and software in a computing
system.
To learn what computer scientists study
and the techniques that they use.
To understand the basic design of a
modern computer.
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Objectives (cont.)
To understand the form and function of
computer programming languages.
To begin using the Python
programming language.
To learn about chaotic models and their
implications for computing.
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A Few Suggestions
Take notes
Think about it.
Practice
Practice again.
Teach it.
Identify your weakness and try to
improve.
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The Universal Machine
A modern computer can be defined as
“a machine that stores and manipulates
information under the control of a
changeable program.”
Two key elements:
Computers are devices for manipulating
information.
Computers operate under the control of a
changeable program.
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Von Neumann Model
Keyboard Monitor
Mouse Printer
Microphone Speaker
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Neumann_architecture
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The Universal Machine
What is a computer program?
A detailed, step-by-step set of instructions
telling a computer what to do.
If we change the program, the computer
performs a different set of actions or a
different task.
The machine stays the same, but the
program changes!
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The Universal Machine
Programs are executed, or carried out.
All computers have the same power,
with suitable programming, i.e. each
computer can do the things any other
computer can do.
Maybe only faster or slower.
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Homework
Read some articles about Charles
Babbage (1791-1871) and write down a
paragraph describing his contribution
that makes him considered a “father of
the computer”.
Include the hyperlinks to the articles which
you read.
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Program Power
Software (programs) rule the hardware
(the physical machine).
The process of creating this software is
called programming.
Why learn to program?
Fundamental part of computer science
Having an understanding of programming
helps you have an understanding of the
strengths and limitations of computers. 17
Python Programming, 2/e
Program Power
Helps you become a more intelligent user of
computers
It can be fun!
Form of expression
Helps the development of problem solving
skills, especially in analyzing complex systems
by reducing them to interactions between
simpler systems.
Programmers are in great demand!
A lucrative career option
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What is Computer Science?
It is not the study of computers!
“Computers are to computer science
what telescopes are to astronomy.” –
E. Dijkstra
The question becomes, “What
processes can be described?”
This question is really, “What can be
computed?”
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What is Computer Science?
Design
One way to show a particular problem can
be solved is to actually design a solution.
This is done by developing an algorithm, a
step-by-step process for achieving the
desired result.
One problem – it can only answer in the
positive. You can’t prove a negative!
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What is Computer Science?
Analysis
Analysis is the process of examining
algorithms and problems mathematically.
Some seemingly simple problems are not
solvable by any algorithm. These problems
are said to be unsolvable.
Problems can be intractable if they would
take too long or take too much memory to
be of practical value.
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What is Computer Science?
Experimentation
Some problems are too complex for
analysis.
Implement a system and then study its
behavior.
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Programming Languages
Natural language has ambiguity and
imprecision problems when used to describe
complex algorithms.
I saw the man in the park with the telescope.
Programs expressed in an unambiguous ,
precise way using programming languages.
Every structure in programming language has a
precise form, called its syntax
Every structure in programming language has a
precise meaning, called its semantics.
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Programming Languages
Programming language is like a code for
writing the instructions the computer
will follow.
Programmers will often refer to their
program as computer code.
Process of writing an algorithm in a
programming language often called coding.
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Programming Languages
High-level computer languages
Designed to be used and understood by
humans
if (score > 60) print("You pass!")
Low-level language
Computer hardware can only understand a
very low level language known as machine
language
0010 0006 3C10 0300 0005
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Low-Level Languages
Add two numbers:
Load the number from memory location
2001 into the CPU
Load the number from memory location
2002 into the CPU
Add the two numbers in the CPU
Store the result into location 2003
In reality, these low-level instructions
are represented in binary (1’s and 0’s)
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High-Level Languages
High-level language
c=a+b
This needs to be translated into
machine language that the computer
can execute.
Compilers convert programs written in a
high-level language into the machine
language of some computer.
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Figure 1.2: Compiling a high-
level Language
Source Compiler Machine
Code Code
(Program)
Inputs Running Outputs
Program
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Programming Languages
Interpreters simulate a computer that
understands a high-level language.
The source program is not translated
into machine language all at once.
An interpreter analyzes and executes
the source code, instruction by
instruction.
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Figure 1.3: Interpreting a
high-level language
Source
Code
(Program) Computer
Running
an Outputs
Interpreter
Inputs
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Compiling vs. Interpreting
Once program is compiled, it can be
executed over and over without the source
code or compiler.
If it is interpreted, the source code and
interpreter are needed each time the
program runs.
Compiled programs generally run faster since
the translation of the source code happens
only once.
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The Magic of Python
When you start Python, you will see
something like:
Python 3.4.1 (default, Aug 27 2014, 21:31:32)
[GCC 4.2.1 Compatible FreeBSD Clang 3.3 (tags/RELEASE_33/final 183502)] on freebsd10
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>>
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The Magic of Python
The “>>>” is a Python prompt indicating that
Python is ready for us to give it a command.
These commands are called statements.
>>> print("Hello, world“)
Hello, world
>>> print(2+3)
5
>>> print("2+3=", 2+3)
2+3= 5
>>>
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The Magic of Python
Usually we want to execute several
statements together that solve a
common problem. One way to do this is
to use a function.
>>> def hello():
print("Hello")
print("Computers are Fun")
>>>
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The Magic of Python
>>> def hello():
print("Hello")
print("Computers are Fun")
>>>
The first line tells Python we are defining a
new function called hello.
The following lines are indented to show that
they are part of the hello function.
The blank line (hit <Enter> twice) lets
Python know the definition is finished.
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The Magic of Python
>>> def hello():
print("Hello")
print("Computers are Fun")
>>>
Notice that nothing has happened yet! We’ve
defined the function, but we haven’t told
Python to perform the function!
A function is invoked by typing its name.
>>> hello()
Hello
Computers are Fun
>>>
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The Magic of Python
What’s the deal with the ()’s?
Commands can have changeable parts
called parameters that are placed
between the ()’s.
>>> def greet(person):
print("Hello",person)
print ("How are you?")
>>>
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The Magic of Python
>>> greet("Terry")
Hello Terry
How are you?
>>> greet("Paula")
Hello Paula
How are you?
>>>
When we use parameters, we can
customize the output of our function.
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The Magic of Python
When we exit the Python prompt, the functions
we’ve defined cease to exist!
Programs are usually composed of functions,
modules, or scripts that are saved on disk so that
they can be used again and again.
A module file is a text file created in text editing
software (saved as “plain text”) that contains
function definitions.
A programming environment is designed to help
programmers write programs and usually includes
automatic indenting, highlighting, etc.
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The Magic of Python
# File: chaos.py
# A simple program illustrating chaotic behavior
def main():
print("This program illustrates a chaotic function")
x = eval(input("Enter a number between 0 and 1: "))
for i in range(10):
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print(x)
main()
We’ll use filename.py when we save our work
to indicate it’s a Python program.
In this code we’re defining a new function
called main.
The main() at the end tells Python to run the
code. Python Programming, 2/e 41
The Magic of Python
>>>
This program illustrates a chaotic function
Enter a number between 0 and 1: .5
0.975
0.0950625
0.335499922266
0.869464925259
0.442633109113
0.962165255337
0.141972779362
0.4750843862
0.972578927537
0.104009713267
>>>
Python Programming, 2/e 42
Inside a Python Program
# File: chaos.py
# A simple program illustrating chaotic behavior
Lines that start with # are called
comments
Intended for human readers and
ignored by Python
Python skips text from # to end of line
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Inside a Python Program
def main():
Beginning of the definition of a function
called main
Since our program has only this one
module, it could have been written
without the main function.
The use of main is customary, however.
Python Programming, 2/e 44
Inside a Python Program
print("This program illustrates a chaotic function")
This line causes Python to print a
message introducing the program.
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Inside a Python Program
x = eval(input("Enter a number between 0 and 1: "))
x is an example of a variable
A variable is used to assign a name to a
value so that we can refer to it later.
The quoted information is displayed,
and the number typed in response is
stored in x.
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Inside a Python Program
for i in range(10):
For is a loop construct
A loop tells Python to repeat the same
thing over and over.
In this example, the following code will
be repeated 10 times.
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Inside a Python Program
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print(x)
These lines are the body of the loop.
The body of the loop is what gets repeated
each time through the loop.
The body of the loop is identified through
indentation.
The effect of the loop is the same as repeating
this two lines 10 times!
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Inside a Python Program
for i in range(10): x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print(x)
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x) x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print(x) print(x)
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print(x)
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print(x)
These are
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print(x)
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
equivalent! print(x)
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print(x)
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print(x)
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print(x)
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print(x)
Python Programming, 2/e 49
Inside a Python Program
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
This is called an assignment statement
The part on the right-hand side (RHS) of the
"=" is a mathematical expression.
* is used to indicate multiplication
Once the value on the RHS is computed, it is
stored (assigned) back into x
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Inside a Python Program
main()
This last line tells Python to execute the
code in the function main
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Chaos and Computers
The chaos.py program:
def main():
print("This program illustrates a chaotic function")
x = eval(input("Enter a number between 0 and 1: "))
for i in range(10):
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
print(x)
main()
For any given input, returns 10 seemingly
random numbers between 0 and 1
It appears that the value of x is chaotic
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Chaos and Computers
Input: 0.25 Input: 0.26
0.73125 0.75036
0.76644140625 0.73054749456
0.698135010439 0.767706625733
0.82189581879 0.6954993339
0.570894019197 0.825942040734
0.955398748364 0.560670965721
0.166186721954 0.960644232282
0.540417912062 0.147446875935
0.9686289303 0.490254549376
0.118509010176 0.974629602149
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Hands-On
Edit a file which stores your Python
program
nano chaos.py
Run the program
python chaos.py
Python Programming, 2/e 55
