Solution and Answer Guide
Fundamentals of Python: First Programs 3rd Edition by Kenneth
Lambert
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Exercise Solutions ....................................................................................................................................... 1
Exercise 1.1 ............................................................................................................................................... 1
Exercise 1.2 ............................................................................................................................................... 2
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Exercise 1.3 ............................................................................................................................................... 3
Review Questions Answers ......................................................................................................................... 4
Programming Exercises Solutions ............................................................................................................. 8
Debugging Exercises Solutions .................................................................................................................. 8
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EXERCISE SOLUTIONS
EXERCISE 1.1
SE
1. List three common types of computing agents.
Solution:
Human beings, desktop computers, cell phones
2. Write an algorithm that describes the second part of the process of making change (counting out the coins
and bills).
Solution:
There are various ways to do this, but here is one:
Repeat
Select the largest unit of money that is less than or equal to the remaining change
Subtract this unit from the remaining change
Until the remaining change is 0
The collection of units selected represent the change
3. Write an algorithm that describes a common task, such as baking a cake.
, Solution:
There are various ways to do this, but here is one:
Preheat an oven to 375 degrees
Add 1 cup of water and 1 egg to a mixing bowl
Beat the liquid mixture in the bowl until the ingredients are blended
Add the contents of a boxed cake mix to the mixing bowl
Beat the mixture in the bowl until the ingredients are blended
Pour the contents of the mixing bowl into a lightly greased cake pan
Bake the cake in the oven for 45 minutes
4. Describe an instruction that is not well defined and thus could not be included as a step in an algorithm.
Give an example of such an instruction.
Solution:
Attempting to divide a number by 0
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5. In what sense is a laptop computer a general-purpose problem-solving machine?
Solution:
A laptop computer is a general-purpose problem-solving machine because it is programmable and can
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solve any problem for which there is an algorithm.
R
6. List four devices that use computers and describe the information that they process. (Hint: Think of the
inputs and outputs of the devices.)
Solution:
SE
Digital camera—images, music player—sound, cell phone—text, ATM—numbers
EXERCISE 1.2
1. List two examples of input devices and two examples of output devices.
Solution:
Input devices—keyboard and mouse, output devices—monitor and speakers
2. What does the central processing unit (CPU) do?
Solution:
The CPU fetches, decodes, and executes instructions.
3. How is information represented in hardware memory?
Solution:
Information is represented using binary notation, which in hardware is a pattern of voltage levels.
, 4. What is the difference between a terminal-based interface and a graphical user interface?
Solution:
A terminal-based interface supports only the input and output of text with a keyboard and monitor. A
graphical user interface supports the output of images and the manipulation of them with a pointing device,
the mouse.
5. What role do translators play in the programming process?
Solution:
A translator converts a program written in a high-level language (human readable and writable) to an
equivalent program in a low-level language (machine readable and executable).
EXERCISE 1.3
1. Describe what happens when the programmer enters the string "Greetings!" in the Python shell.
Solution:
JN
Python reads the string "Greetings!", evaluates it, and displays this string (including single quotes)
in the shell.
2. Write a line of code that prompts the user for their name and saves the user’s input in a variable called
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name.
Solution:
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name = input("Enter your name: ")
SE
3. What is a Python script?
Solution:
A Python script is a complete Python program that can be run from a computer’s operating system.
4. Explain what goes on behind the scenes when your computer runs a Python program.
Solution:
If the program has not already been translated, Python’s compiler translates it to byte code. The Python
virtual machine then executes this code.
, REVIEW QUESTIONS ANSWERS
1. Which of the following is an example of an algorithm?
a. A dictionary
b. A recipe
c. A shopping list
d. The spelling checker of a word processor
Answer: b
Feedback:
a. Incorrect. A dictionary is a data structure.
b. Correct. A recipe is a set of instructions that describes a process that halts with a solution to a problem.
c. Incorrect. A shopping list is a data structure.
JN
d. Incorrect. A word processor is a program that consists of instructions and data.
2. Which of the following contains information?
U
a. An audio CD
b. A refrigerator
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c. An automobile
d. A stereo speaker
SE
Answer: a
Feedback:
a. Correct. The information on an audio CD represents sound.
b. Incorrect. A refrigerator contains just food, if it’s not empty.
c. Incorrect. An automobile contains a steering wheel, engine, exhaust pipe, and so on.
d. Incorrect. A stereo speaker contains a magnetic coil, wires, and so on.
3. Which of the following is a general-purpose computing device?
a. A smartphone
b. A portable music player
c. A microwave oven
d. A programmable thermostat
Fundamentals of Python: First Programs 3rd Edition by Kenneth
Lambert
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Exercise Solutions ....................................................................................................................................... 1
Exercise 1.1 ............................................................................................................................................... 1
Exercise 1.2 ............................................................................................................................................... 2
JN
Exercise 1.3 ............................................................................................................................................... 3
Review Questions Answers ......................................................................................................................... 4
Programming Exercises Solutions ............................................................................................................. 8
Debugging Exercises Solutions .................................................................................................................. 8
U
R
EXERCISE SOLUTIONS
EXERCISE 1.1
SE
1. List three common types of computing agents.
Solution:
Human beings, desktop computers, cell phones
2. Write an algorithm that describes the second part of the process of making change (counting out the coins
and bills).
Solution:
There are various ways to do this, but here is one:
Repeat
Select the largest unit of money that is less than or equal to the remaining change
Subtract this unit from the remaining change
Until the remaining change is 0
The collection of units selected represent the change
3. Write an algorithm that describes a common task, such as baking a cake.
, Solution:
There are various ways to do this, but here is one:
Preheat an oven to 375 degrees
Add 1 cup of water and 1 egg to a mixing bowl
Beat the liquid mixture in the bowl until the ingredients are blended
Add the contents of a boxed cake mix to the mixing bowl
Beat the mixture in the bowl until the ingredients are blended
Pour the contents of the mixing bowl into a lightly greased cake pan
Bake the cake in the oven for 45 minutes
4. Describe an instruction that is not well defined and thus could not be included as a step in an algorithm.
Give an example of such an instruction.
Solution:
Attempting to divide a number by 0
JN
5. In what sense is a laptop computer a general-purpose problem-solving machine?
Solution:
A laptop computer is a general-purpose problem-solving machine because it is programmable and can
U
solve any problem for which there is an algorithm.
R
6. List four devices that use computers and describe the information that they process. (Hint: Think of the
inputs and outputs of the devices.)
Solution:
SE
Digital camera—images, music player—sound, cell phone—text, ATM—numbers
EXERCISE 1.2
1. List two examples of input devices and two examples of output devices.
Solution:
Input devices—keyboard and mouse, output devices—monitor and speakers
2. What does the central processing unit (CPU) do?
Solution:
The CPU fetches, decodes, and executes instructions.
3. How is information represented in hardware memory?
Solution:
Information is represented using binary notation, which in hardware is a pattern of voltage levels.
, 4. What is the difference between a terminal-based interface and a graphical user interface?
Solution:
A terminal-based interface supports only the input and output of text with a keyboard and monitor. A
graphical user interface supports the output of images and the manipulation of them with a pointing device,
the mouse.
5. What role do translators play in the programming process?
Solution:
A translator converts a program written in a high-level language (human readable and writable) to an
equivalent program in a low-level language (machine readable and executable).
EXERCISE 1.3
1. Describe what happens when the programmer enters the string "Greetings!" in the Python shell.
Solution:
JN
Python reads the string "Greetings!", evaluates it, and displays this string (including single quotes)
in the shell.
2. Write a line of code that prompts the user for their name and saves the user’s input in a variable called
U
name.
Solution:
R
name = input("Enter your name: ")
SE
3. What is a Python script?
Solution:
A Python script is a complete Python program that can be run from a computer’s operating system.
4. Explain what goes on behind the scenes when your computer runs a Python program.
Solution:
If the program has not already been translated, Python’s compiler translates it to byte code. The Python
virtual machine then executes this code.
, REVIEW QUESTIONS ANSWERS
1. Which of the following is an example of an algorithm?
a. A dictionary
b. A recipe
c. A shopping list
d. The spelling checker of a word processor
Answer: b
Feedback:
a. Incorrect. A dictionary is a data structure.
b. Correct. A recipe is a set of instructions that describes a process that halts with a solution to a problem.
c. Incorrect. A shopping list is a data structure.
JN
d. Incorrect. A word processor is a program that consists of instructions and data.
2. Which of the following contains information?
U
a. An audio CD
b. A refrigerator
R
c. An automobile
d. A stereo speaker
SE
Answer: a
Feedback:
a. Correct. The information on an audio CD represents sound.
b. Incorrect. A refrigerator contains just food, if it’s not empty.
c. Incorrect. An automobile contains a steering wheel, engine, exhaust pipe, and so on.
d. Incorrect. A stereo speaker contains a magnetic coil, wires, and so on.
3. Which of the following is a general-purpose computing device?
a. A smartphone
b. A portable music player
c. A microwave oven
d. A programmable thermostat
