Python Basics

Copy the code from the exercise below and play around with the different basic building blocks of Python. Create new cells with # %% as necessary.

📖 Go to Python Basics Chapter

🎓 Python Tutorial

📄 Python Reference

Python Basics

Exercise
Solution

# %%
# Types:
# Boolean (bool), Integer (int), Range (range), Float (float),
# Complex Number (complex), String (str), List (list), Tuple (tuple),
# Dictionary (dict), Set (set), Absence of value (None)

# %%
# Boolean (bool)


# %%
# Integer (int)


# %%
# Range (range)


# %%
# Float (float)


# %%
# Complex Number (complex)


# %%
# String (str)


# %%
# List (list)


# %%
# Tuple (tuple)


# %%
# Dictionary (dict)


# %%
# Set (set)


# %%
# Absence of value (None)


# %%
# Variables and Assignment (=)


# %%
# Mathematical Operations (+,-,*,**,/,//)


# %%
# Comparisons (==,!=,<,<=,>,>=)


# %%
# Boolean Operators (and/or/not)


# %%
# String Expressions (+,*)


# %%
# List Expressions (+,*)


# %%
# Conditional Execution (if/elif/else)


# %%
# For Loops (for)


# %%
# While Loops (while)


# %%
# List Comprehensions [...]


# %%
# Dictionary Comprehensions {...}


# %%
# Functions (def)


# %%
# Anonymous Functions (lambda)


# %%
# Import Packages (import)


# %%
# List Indexing


# %%
# Dictionary Indexing

# %%
# Types:
# Boolean (bool), Integer (int), Range (range), Float (float),
# Complex Number (complex), String (str), List (list), Tuple (tuple),
# Dictionary (dict), Set (set), Absence of value (None)

# %%
# Boolean (bool)
True, False

# %%
# Integer (int)
15

# %%
# Range (range)
range(1, 10, 2)

# %%
# Float (float)
2.66666

# %%
# Complex Number (complex)
1.5 + 3.2j

# %%
# String (str)
"Text", "Text"

# %%
# List (list)
[1, 2, 3]

# %%
# Tuple (tuple)
(1, 2, 3)

# %%
# Dictionary (dict)
{"a": 1, "b": 2, "c": 3}

# %%
# Set (set)
{"a", "b", "c"}

# %%
# Absence of value (None)
None

# %%
# Variables and Assignment (=)
a = 1
b = 4

c, d = 13, 14

# %%
# Mathematical Operations (+,-,*,**,/,//)
1 + 1
a - 2

b / c
b // 3  # Floor division

c * d
c**2  # Power

# %%
# Comparisons (==,!=,<,<=,>,>=)
a == 1  # True
a != 1  # False

a < 2  # True
a <= 2  # True

a > 2  # False
a >= 2  # False

# %%
# Boolean Operators (and/or/not)
a == 1 and not (b < 3 or b > 3)

# %%
# String Expressions (+,*)
"My name is " + "Peter"

"A" * 5  # "AAAAA"

# %%
# List Expressions (+,*)
["one", "list"] + ["two", "lists"]

["A"] * 5

# %%
# Conditional Execution (if/elif/else)
if a == b:
    print("a = b")
elif a > b:
    print("a > b")
else:
    print("a < b")

# %%
# For Loops (for)
for i in range(10):
    print(i)

# %%
# While Loops (while)
j = 0
while j < 10:
    print(j)
    j += 1  # j = j + 1

# %%
# List Comprehensions [...]
lc = [i for i in range(5)]

# Same as
ll = []
for i in range(5):
    ll.append(i)

lc == ll

# %%
# Dictionary Comprehensions {...}
keys = ["A", "B", "C"]
values = [1, 2, 3]

dc = {k: j for k, j in zip(keys, values)}

# Same as

dl = {}
for k, j in zip(keys, values):
    dl[k] = j

dc == dl


# %%
# Functions (def)
def my_function(a, b=2):
    return a**b


my_function(2)
my_function(2, 3)

# %%
# Anonymous Functions (lambda)
my_afunc = lambda x: x + 1

my_afunc(1)

# %%
# Import Packages (import)
import polars as pl

pl.DataFrame()

# %%
# List Indexing
my_list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

len(my_list)

my_list[0]
my_list[3]

my_list[-1]
my_list[-2]

my_list[1:3]
my_list[1:6:2]

# %%
# Dictionary Indexing
my_dict = {"A": 1, "B": 2, "C": 3}

len(my_dict)

my_dict["A"]
my_dict["C"]

Printing Patterns

Exercise
Solution

# %%
# Print various patterns using the print() function, for loops, and string manipulation.

# %%
# Print the pattern:
# *
# **
# ***
# ****
# *****


# %%
# Print the pattern:
#     *
#    **
#   ***
#  ****
# *****


# %%
# Print the pattern:
#     *
#    ***
#   *****
#  *******
# *********


# %%
# Print the pattern:
#        *
#       ***
#      *****
#     *******
#    *********
#   ***********
#    *********
#     *******
#      *****
#       ***
#        *

# %%
# Print various patterns using the print() function, for loops, and string manipulation.

# %%
# Print the pattern:
# *
# **
# ***
# ****
# *****
for i in range(5):
    print("*" * (i + 1))

# %%
# Print the pattern:
#     *
#    **
#   ***
#  ****
# *****
length = 5
for i in range(length):
    string = "*" * (i + 1)
    rjust_string = string.rjust(length)
    print(rjust_string)

# %%
# Print the pattern:
#     *
#    ***
#   *****
#  *******
# *********
length = 5
width = length * 2 + 1
for i in range(length):
    string = "*" * (2 * i + 1)
    rjust_string = string.center(width)
    print(rjust_string)

# %%
# Print the pattern:
#        *
#       ***
#      *****
#     *******
#    *********
#   ***********
#    *********
#     *******
#      *****
#       ***
#        *
length = 11
width = length * 2 + 1
for i in range(length):
    string = "*" * (2 * i + 1) if i < length / 2 else "*" * (width - 2 * i - 2)
    rjust_string = string.center(width)
    print(rjust_string)

Guessing Game

Exercise
Solution

# %%
# Guessing Game
# -------------
# 1. Generate a random number between 1 and 20
# 2. Give the player 3 attempts to guess
# 3. Provide feedback if the guess is too high or too low
# 4. Congratulate the player if they guess correctly
# 5. Reveal the answer if they run out of guesses

# %%
# Guessing Game
# -------------
# 1. Generate a random number between 1 and 20
# 2. Give the player 3 attempts to guess
# 3. Provide feedback if the guess is too high or too low
# 4. Congratulate the player if they guess correctly
# 5. Reveal the answer if they run out of guesses
import random

n_guesses = 3
target = random.randint(1, 20)

for i in range(n_guesses):
    guess = input(f"Guess {i + 1}/{n_guesses}:")

    if str.isdigit(guess):
        guess = int(guess)
    else:
        print(f"'{guess}' is not a number.")
        continue

    if guess > target:
        print(f"{guess} is too high.")
    elif guess < target:
        print(f"{guess} is too low.")
    else:
        print(f"You win! The number was {target}.")
        break
else:
    print(f"Game over! The number was {target}.")

# %%
# Create a fortune-telling program that gives random responses to yes/no questions.
# - Store 10 different responses in a list (mix of positive, negative, and uncertain)
# - Repeatedly ask for questions until user types 'quit'
# - Select and display a random response for each question
# - Handle empty input with an error message
# ---
# Example Responses
# - Positive: "Yes, definitely", "It is certain", "Outlook good"
# - Negative: "Don't count on it", "Very doubtful"
# - Uncertain: "Ask again later", "Cannot predict now"
# ---
# Sample Run
# Ask a question: Will it rain tomorrow?
# ✨ Most likely
#
# Ask a question:
# Need a question!
#
# Ask a question: quit
# Goodbye!
# ---
# Hints
# - random.choice(list) to pick random element
# - Use while True with break or check for 'quit' in loop condition
# - .lower() for case-insensitive quit command

# %%

# %%
# Create a fortune-telling program that gives random responses to yes/no questions.
# - Store 10 different responses in a list (mix of positive, negative, and uncertain)
# - Repeatedly ask for questions until user types 'quit'
# - Select and display a random response for each question
# - Handle empty input with an error message
# ---
# Example Responses
# - Positive: "Yes, definitely", "It is certain", "Outlook good"
# - Negative: "Don't count on it", "Very doubtful"
# - Uncertain: "Ask again later", "Cannot predict now"
# ---
# Sample Run
# Ask a question: Will it rain tomorrow?
# ✨ Most likely
#
# Ask a question:
# Need a question!
#
# Ask a question: quit
# Goodbye!
# ---
# Hints
# - random.choice(list) to pick random element
# - Use while True with break or check for 'quit' in loop condition
# - .lower() for case-insensitive quit command

# %%
import random

responses = [
    "Yes, definitely",
    "It is certain",
    "Without a doubt",
    "Most likely",
    "Outlook good",
    "Ask again later",
    "Better not tell you now",
    "Cannot predict now",
    "Don't count on it",
    "Very doubtful",
]

print("🔮 Magic 8-Ball 🔮")
print("Ask a yes/no question (or 'quit' to exit)\n")

while True:
    question = input("Your question: ").strip()

    if question.lower() in ["quit", "q", "exit"]:
        print("The spirits have departed. Goodbye!")
        break

    if not question:
        print("The spirits need a question to answer!\n")
        continue

    print("🔮 Consulting the spirits...")
    answer = random.choice(responses)
    print(f"✨ {answer}\n")

Dice Rolling Game

Exercise
Solution

# %%
# Create a betting game where players guess if two dice will sum to odd or even.
# - Start with $100, win at $200, lose at $0
# - Each round: bet money → guess odd/even → roll two dice → win or lose bet
# - Correct guess doubles your bet, wrong guess loses it
# ---
# 1 Game loop that runs while balance is between $0 and $200
# 2 Get bet amount (1 to current balance)
# 3 Get odd/even guess from player
# 4 Roll two dice (1-6 each) and show result
# 5 Update balance based on outcome
# 6 Display win/loss messages at game end
# ---
# Sample Run
# Balance: $100. Bet: 50
# Odd or Even? (o/e): e
# Rolled 3 + 4 = 7 (odd)
# You lost $50!
# ---
# Hints
# random.randint(1, 6) for dice
# total % 2 == 0 to check if even
# while 0 < balance < 200 for game loop

# %%

# %%
# Create a betting game where players guess if two dice will sum to odd or even.
# - Start with $100, win at $200, lose at $0
# - Each round: bet money → guess odd/even → roll two dice → win or lose bet
# - Correct guess doubles your bet, wrong guess loses it
# ---
# 1 Game loop that runs while balance is between $0 and $200
# 2 Get bet amount (1 to current balance)
# 3 Get odd/even guess from player
# 4 Roll two dice (1-6 each) and show result
# 5 Update balance based on outcome
# 6 Display win/loss messages at game end
# ---
# Sample Run
# Balance: $100. Bet: 50
# Odd or Even? (o/e): e
# Rolled 3 + 4 = 7 (odd)
# You lost $50!
# ---
# Hints
# random.randint(1, 6) for dice
# total % 2 == 0 to check if even
# while 0 < balance < 200 for game loop

# %%
import random

balance = 100
print("🎲 Dice Game 🎲")
print(f"Start: ${balance}. Goal: $200\n")

while 0 < balance < 200:
    bet = min(balance, max(1, int(input(f"Balance: ${balance}. Bet: "))))
    guess = input("Odd or Even? (o/e): ").lower()[0]

    d1, d2 = random.randint(1, 6), random.randint(1, 6)
    total = d1 + d2
    won = (guess == "e") == (total % 2 == 0)

    print(f"Rolled {d1} + {d2} = {total} ({'even' if total % 2 == 0 else 'odd'})")
    balance += bet if won else -bet
    print(f"You {'won' if won else 'lost'} ${bet}!\n")

print(f"{'🎉 Winner!' if balance >= 200 else 'Game Over!'} Final: ${balance}")