Control

Announcements
Print and None

(Demo)
None Indicates that Nothing is Returned

The special value None represents nothing in Python

A function that does not explicitly return a value will return None

Careful: None is not displayed by the interpreter as the value of an expression

>>> def does_not_return_square(x):

... x * x
No return
...
None value is not displayed
>>> does_not_return_square(4)
The name sixteen >>> sixteen = does_not_return_square(4)
is now bound to
the value None >>> sixteen + 4
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for +: 'NoneType' and 'int'

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Pure Functions & Non-Pure Functions

Return value
Pure Functions
just return values -2 abs
2
Argument

2, 100 pow
1267650600228229401496703205376
2 Arguments

Returns None!
Non-Pure Functions
have side effects -2 print
None
A side effect isn't a
value; it's anything
Python displays the output “-2” that happens as a
consequence of
calling a function

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Nested Expressions with Print

None, None print(...):

None Does not get
displayed

display “None None”

None
print(print(1), print(2))

func print(...) None None

print(1) print(2)

func print(...) 1 func print(...) 2

1 print(...): 2 print(...):
None None

display “1” display “2”

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Multiple Environments
Life Cycle of a User-Defined Function
What happens?
Formal parameter
Return
Name expression
Def statement: >>> def square( x ): A new function is created!

return mul(x, x) Name bound to that function

Def
statement in the current frame
Body (return statement)

operand: 2+2 Operator & operands evaluated

Call expression: square(2+2) argument: 4
Function (value of operator)
called on arguments
operator: square (values of operands)
function: func square(x)

A new frame is created!

Calling/Applying: 4 square( x ):
Parameters bound to arguments
Argument 16
Signature
Body is executed in that new
Return value environment
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(Demo)
Multiple Environments in One Diagram!

square(square(3))

func square(x)
square(3)

func square(x) 3

http://pythontutor.com/composingprograms.html#code=from%20operator%20import%20mul%0Adef%20square%28x%29%3A%0A%20%20%20%20return%20mul%28x,%20x%29%0Asquare%28square%283%29%29&cumulative=true&curInstr=0&mode=display&origin=composingprograms.js&py=3&rawInputLstJSON=%5B%5D
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Multiple Environments in One Diagram!

square(square(3))

func square(x) 9
square(3)

func square(x) 3

http://pythontutor.com/composingprograms.html#code=from%20operator%20import%20mul%0Adef%20square%28x%29%3A%0A%20%20%20%20return%20mul%28x,%20x%29%0Asquare%28square%283%29%29&cumulative=true&curInstr=0&mode=display&origin=composingprograms.js&py=3&rawInputLstJSON=%5B%5D
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Multiple Environments in One Diagram!

1
81
square(square(3))

func square(x) 9
square(3) An environment is a sequence of frames.

• The global frame alone

func square(x) 3
• A local, then the global frame
http://pythontutor.com/composingprograms.html#code=from%20operator%20import%20mul%0Adef%20square%28x%29%3A%0A%20%20%20%20return%20mul%28x,%20x%29%0Asquare%28square%283%29%29&cumulative=true&curInstr=0&mode=display&origin=composingprograms.js&py=3&rawInputLstJSON=%5B%5D
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Names Have No Meaning Without Environments

1
Every expression is
evaluated in the context
of an environment.

A name evaluates to the

value bound to that name An environment is a sequence of frames.
in the earliest frame of
the current environment in • The global frame alone
which that name is found.
• A local, then the global frame
http://pythontutor.com/composingprograms.html#code=from%20operator%20import%20mul%0Adef%20square%28x%29%3A%0A%20%20%20%20return%20mul%28x,%20x%29%0Asquare%28square%283%29%29&cumulative=true&curInstr=0&mode=display&origin=composingprograms.js&py=3&rawInputLstJSON=%5B%5D
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Names Have Different Meanings in Different Environments

A call expression and the body of the function being called

are evaluated in different environments

Every expression is
evaluated in the context
of an environment.

A name evaluates to the

value bound to that name
in the earliest frame of
the current environment in
which that name is found.

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http://pythontutor.com/composingprograms.html#code=from%20operator%20import%20mul%0Adef%20square%28square%29%3A%0A%20%20%20%20return%20mul%28square,%20square%29%0Asquare%284%29&cumulative=true&curInstr=0&mode=display&origin=composingprograms.js&py=3&rawInputLstJSON=%5B%5D
Miscellaneous Python Features

Division
Multiple Return Values
Source Files
Doctests
Default Arguments

(Demo)
Conditional Statements
Statements

A statement is executed by the interpreter to perform an action

Compound statements:

Statement The first header determines a

Clause statement’s type

<header>:
<statement> The header of a clause
<statement> Suite “controls” the suite that
... follows
<separating header>:
<statement>
<statement> def statements are compound
... statements
...

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Compound Statements

Compound statements:
A suite is a sequence of
<header>: statements
<statement>
Suite
<statement>
...
<separating header>: To “execute” a suite means to
<statement> execute its sequence of
<statement> statements, in order
...
...

Execution Rule for a sequence of statements:

• Execute the first statement

• Unless directed otherwise, execute the rest

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Conditional Statements

def absolute_value(x):
"""Return the absolute value of x."""
if x < 0:
1 statement, return -x
3 clauses, elif x == 0:
3 headers, return 0
3 suites else:
return x

Execution Rule for Conditional Statements: Syntax Tips:

Each clause is considered in order. 1. Always starts with "if" clause.

1. Evaluate the header's expression. 2. Zero or more "elif" clauses.

2. If it is a true value, 3. Zero or one "else" clause,

execute the suite & skip the remaining clauses. always at the end.
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Boolean Contexts

def absolute_value(x):
"""Return the absolute value of x."""
if x < 0:
return -x
elif x == 0:
return 0
else:
return x

George Boole

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Boolean Contexts

def absolute_value(x):
"""Return the absolute value of x."""
if x < 0:
return -x
elif x == 0: Two boolean contexts
return 0
else:
return x

George Boole

False values in Python: False, 0, '', None (more to come)

True values in Python: Anything else (True)

Read Section 1.5.4!

(Demo)
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Reading: http://composingprograms.com/pages/15-control.html#conditional-statements
Iteration
While Statements

(Demo)

1 2 3
1 3 6

Execution Rule for While Statements:

George Boole
1. Evaluate the header’s expression.

2. If it is a true value,
execute the (whole) suite,
then return to step 1.

(Demo)
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Example: Prime Factorization
Prime Factorization

Each positive integer n has a set of prime factors: primes whose product is n

...
8 = 2 * 2 * 2
9 = 3 * 3
10 = 2 * 5
11 = 11
12 = 2 * 2 * 3
...

One approach: Find the smallest prime factor of n, then divide by it

858 = 2 * 429 = 2 * 3 * 143 = 2 * 3 * 11 * 13

(Demo)

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