Python Programming for Data Analysis

Lecture 1 - Computers, Programming and Algorithms

Vinh Vo (Ph.D)

Department of Economic Mathemetics

Ho Chi Minh city University of Banking

January 29, 2023

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Outline

1 Introduction to computers and programs

2 Algorithms

3 Exercises

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 Introduction to computers and programs

Outline

1 Introduction to computers and programs

2 Algorithms

3 Exercises

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 Introduction to computers and programs

Overview of computers

Definition
A computer is a machine that can be programmed to carry out sequences
of arithmetic or logical operations (computation) automatically [wikipedia]
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cách chủ động

What does a computer do?

Fundamentally:
performs calculations: a billion calculations per second!
remembers results: 100s of gigabytes of storage!
What kinds of calculations?
built-in to the language
ones that you define as the programmer
computers only know what programmers tell them

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 Introduction to computers and programs

Computer components

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 Introduction to computers and programs

Basic machine architecture

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 Introduction to computers and programs

Why do we program?

We - human beings usually cause errors, quickly forget something and

are not tenacious

Computer programs can perform a set of tasks once we define them

clearly
We can use a computer to solve our regular problems by providing it
clear instructions rather than solving it by our self with many benefits:

1 It makes regular processes much easier

2 It reduces the chance of errors
3 It provides extra analysis of data
4 ...

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 Introduction to computers and programs

Computer program (1/2)

Programming
The process of using a language that a machine can understand in order to
get it to perform various tasks. Computer programming is how we
communicate with machines in a way that makes them function how we
need.

Computer program
A sequence or set of instructions in a programming language for a
computer to execute.

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 Introduction to computers and programs

Computer program (2/2)

One component of softwares
Exists in human-readable form is called source code.
Source code is translated into machine language (a string of bits).
compilation
interpretation

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 Algorithms

Outline

1 Introduction to computers and programs

2 Algorithms

3 Exercises

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 Algorithms

Algorithms

Definition
a well-defined, systematic logical approach that comes with a step-by-step
procedure for computers to solve any given program.

Properties of algorithms:
effectiveness
definiteness
finiteness
generality

Representation of algorithms:
pseudocode
flowchart
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 Algorithms

Algorithm representation: Pseudo-code

Pseudocode
A plain language description of the steps in a computing process or an
algorithm. It is often written in a normal language which is intended for
human reading rather than machine reading [wikipedia].

Example: Calculate the absolute value of an integer inputted from

the keyboard.

Algorithm 1: Calculate the absolute value of an integer x

Input: An integer x from user input
Output: The absolute value of x
1 Prompt the user for an integer value
2 Accept that integer and store it in x
3 if x is negative then
4 x = −x
5 Display x

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 Algorithms

Algorithm representation: Flowchart (1/2)

Use symbols to describe the flow of a program.

Basic symbols:

Start or An oval represents a A diamond represents

End start or an end point a decision

input or A parallelogram A polygon represents off-

output represents input or output page connectors

A rectangle represents a A circle represents connectors.

process
process It is usually used with arrows

An arrow shows relationships

between shapes

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 Algorithms

Algorithm representation: Flowchart (2/2)

Example: display the flowchart for calculating the absolute value of

an integer x inputted from the keyboard.

input an
Start
integer

store the
integer into 𝑥

Yes
𝑥 < 0?

No 𝑥 = −𝑥

End output 𝑥

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 Exercises

Outline

1 Introduction to computers and programs

2 Algorithms

3 Exercises

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 Exercises

Exercises: Electricity Bill

Exercise 1: write a Python program which

allows users to input electricity unit charges.
It calculates the bill (in 1000 VND)
according to the given condition:
For first 50 units 1.5 VND/unit
For next 100 units 2.0 VND/unit
For next 100 units 2.5 VND/unit
For unit above 250 3.0 VND/unit

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 Exercises

Exercises: Vending Machine

Exercise 2: write a Python program to simulate a Vending Machine

(“Jido Hanbaiki” in Japanese) which sales the beverage list as below:

Name Coke Pepsi Water Sprite Lemonade

Price $0.5 $0.5 $0.3 $0.6 $0.8

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 Exercises

Simple Equation: ax + b = 0

Exercise 3: write a Python program to solve the equation ax + b = 0.

The solutions will be printed out depending on two real numbers a
and b which are inputted from keyboard.

The flowchart is given as below

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 Exercises

Quadratic Equation: ax2 + bx + c = 0

Exercise 4: write a Python program to solve the equation

ax2 + bx + c = 0. The solutions will be printed out depending on three
real numbers a, b and c which are inputted from keyboard.

The pseudo-code is given as below

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 Exercises

B B B B B

B B B B B

B B
Q&A B B

B B B B B

B B B B B

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