4. Modules and Functions

Syllabus Points Covered

Programming fundamentals

Designing algorithms

• Develop structured algorithms using pseudocode and flowcharts, including the use of subprograms

  • Pseudocode

  • Flowcharts

• Analyse the logic and structure of written algorithms

  • determining connections of written algorithms to other subroutines or functions

• Identify procedures and functions in an algorithm

Data for software engineering

• Investigate the use of number systems for computing purposes, including binary, decimal and hexadecimal

• Represent integers using two’s complement

• Investigate standard data types

  • date and time

Developing solutions with code

• Apply skills in computational thinking and programming to develop a software solution

  • converting an algorithm into code

  • using standard modules

  • creating relevant subprograms that incorporate parameter passing

• Determine typical errors experienced when developing code, including syntax, logic and runtime, and explain their likely causes

Chapter Contents

• 4.1. Modules
  • 4.1.1. The Python Standard Library
  • 4.1.2. Other modules
  • 4.1.3. Installing modules with pip
• 4.2. The Math Module
  • 4.2.1. Importing Functions
  • 4.2.2. Accessing Constants
• 4.3. Random Integers
• 4.4. Random Floats and Using Probabilities
• 4.5. Pseudorandomness
• 4.6. Time
  • 4.6.1. Adding Pauses to a Program
  • 4.6.2. Timing a Program
• 4.7. datetime
  • 4.7.1. Date
  • 4.7.2. Time
  • 4.7.3. datetime
  • 4.7.4. timedelta
• 4.8. Functions
• 4.9. Function Scope
  • 4.9.1. Global Scope
• 4.10. Optional Parameters (Keyword Arguments)
  • 4.10.1. Parameters vs Arguments
• 4.11. Function Returns
  • 4.11.1. Multiple Return Values
  • 4.11.2. Unpacking Return Values
  • 4.11.3. No Return Value - Procedures
• 4.12. Custom Modules
• 4.13. Representing Numbers in Binary
  • 4.13.1. Decimal (base 10)
  • 4.13.2. Binary (base 2)
• 4.14. Two’s Complement
  • 4.14.1. A quick note on addition in binary
• 4.15. The Hexadecimal System
  • 4.15.1. Hexadecimal to Decimal
  • 4.15.2. Applications: Colours
• 4.16. ASCII
• 4.17. Pseudocode and Flowcharts
  • 4.17.1. Pseudocode
  • 4.17.2. Flowcharts