Mailman 3 - Edu-sig - python.org

passing on Python lore
by kirby urner 24 Jul '24

24 Jul '24

I'm herewith archiving an email from earlier today, to the guy in charge of the Python curriculum at this company I work for (see LinkedIn profile). It refers back to this listserv, in the context of recycling what I consider a choice piece of Python lore: that generator for deriving digits of pi. -- Kirby ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Kirby Urner <kirby(a)clarusway.com> Date: Wed, Jul 24, 2024 at 4:05 PM Subject: Python generators (a fun example, not by me) To: On the topic of Python generators, I just wanted to share what I consider a mysterious one, meaning I didn't write it and don't understand why it works (eyeballing the code has not yielded answers). It may have actually come to me from Guido himself if I remember how it went on edu-sig (one of the archived Python.org discussion groups on which I've been active). He and I have a long term shared interest around integrating Python into everyday math learning (we've come a long way since then). For context, I'm copying this Python generator from my Jupyter Notebook called Pi Day, which is about using Python to generate the number pi in various ways: https://nbviewer.org/github/4dsolutions/Python5/blob/master/Pi%20Day%20Fun.… Although most of the Python is by me, I'm simply implementing algorithms discovered by others (it's about their genius, not mine), such as that famous one by Ramanujan in the middle of the page. Here's the generator I'm talking about (at the very end of the above notebook, before the flashing GIF pizza pi): """ Another generator example: converging to Pi https://mail.python.org/pipermail/edu-sig/2015-September/date.html """ def pi(): k, a, b, a1, b1 = 2, 4, 1, 12, 4 while True: p, q, k = k*k, 2*k+1, k+1 a, b, a1, b1 = a1, b1, p*a+q*a1, p*b+q*b1 d, d1 = a/b, a1/b1 while d == d1: yield int(d) a, a1 = 10*(a%b), 10*(a1%b1) d, d1 = a/b, a1/b1 if __name__ == "__main__": the_gen = pi() for _ in range(100): print(next(the_gen),end="") print() If I run that I get (I also have 3.9 as well as 3.11): Python 3.9.12 (main, Apr 5 2022, 01:53:17) Type "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information. IPython 7.31.1 -- An enhanced Interactive Python. runfile('/Users/kirbyurner/Documents/clarusway_data_analysis/python_warm_up/pi_generator.py', wdir='/Users/kirbyurner/Documents/clarusway_data_analysis/python_warm_up') 3141592653589793238462643383279502884197169399375105820974944592307816406286208998628034825342117067 Those are the digits of pi <https://www.piday.org/million/>! Why? Pretty interesting, no? Kirby

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Part-time opportunities for Python instructors
by Merav Yuravlivker 07 May '24

07 May '24

Hi there, My name is Merav Yuravlivker, and I'm the CEO of Data Society - we deliver data science academies to Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and other international organizations. We're currently looking for part-time Python instructors and TAs, and my friend Jackie Kazil recommended I reach out to you and your list serv. All of these opportunities can be available for people who are employed full-time, professors, or grad students. We pay well and provide all the materials for the instructor, as well as instructor training and support. If possible, would you please be able to share the following blurb? Please let me know if there is anything else you need from me. Much appreciated! Best, Merav --- Data Society, a fast-growing data science training company, is looking for awesome Python instructors and TAs! We deliver data academies to Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and international organizations. All of our content is built in-house by an expert team of data scientists and instructional designers, so you can focus on what you do best - teach professionals how to find new insights and make their jobs easier. We currently have a few openings for TAs, as well as part-time instructors - all of these opportunities can be available for people who are employed full-time, professors, or grad students. We pay competitively, have a great support team, and provide amazing opportunities for additional projects if you're interested. To learn more, please visit our page for current opportunities <https://t.sidekickopen10.com/s2t/c/5/f18dQhb0S7lM8dDMPbW2n0x6l2B9nMJN7t5X-F…>, or simply reach out to Merav at merav(a)datasociety.com. -- Schedule a time to meet <https://t.sidekickopen10.com/s1t/c/5/f18dQhb0S7lM8dDMPbW2n0x6l2B9nMJN7t5X-F…> Merav Yuravlivker Data Society, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder 777 6th Street NW, 11th Floor Washington, D.C., 20001 Enterprise: solutions.datasociety.com Consumer: datasociety.com

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introducing python
by kirby urner 18 Apr '24

18 Apr '24

When I start introducing Python I use this chart [1]: Five Dimensions of Python: - Level 0: core syntax with keywords & punctuation, indentation (import, if...) - Level 1: a large set of built-ins (e.g. print) - Level 2: special names with the double underlines - Level 3: Standard Library (e.g. math) - Level 4: 3rd Party Ecosystem (e.g. numpy, pandas, matplotlib) Here's a Level 2 topic I've been recently working on: https://nbviewer.org/github/4dsolutions/m4w/blob/main/gadzooks.ipynb I know, we don't all love those __ribs__ (special names), however that's a benefit of Free Open Source: you can fork and adapt, take the best ideas, and leave the rest. This one is about how implementing __add__ gets you default behavior for __iadd__ with no extra work, with the option to go on to add your own __iadd__. Kirby [1] example of me doing that: https://github.com/4dsolutions/clarusway_data_analysis/blob/main/python_war… coming from: https://nbviewer.org/github/4dsolutions/clarusway_data_analysis/blob/main/D… (Exhibit: some Python teaching in the wild....)

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Lightning Talk: Quadrays with Python
by kirby urner 08 Apr '24

08 Apr '24

https://youtu.be/enO1vgOJxwM Were I to join the Saturday Morning queue, and share a Lightning Talk at a Pycon. Fond memories. [1] This 4 min 38 sec YouTube speaks to teachers in that Venn Diagram where the set of math teachers and set of Python programmers intersect. edu-sig has always presumed such an intersection exists, and caters to its members. Kirby

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CODING FOR KIDS
by Shard Center for Innovation 22 Mar '24

22 Mar '24

Shard Center for Innovation is an esteemed institution dedicated to nurturing young minds through coding for kids programs. With a strong focus on technological literacy and creativity, our courses are designed to equip children aged 7 to 17 with essential coding skills in a fun and engaging way. Our curriculum is carefully crafted to cater to different age groups and skill levels, ensuring that each child receives personalized attention and support. Through hands-on projects, interactive activities, and collaborative learning environments, we inspire curiosity and foster a passion for coding early on. https://scilindia.org/blog/coding-for-kids/

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Grokking Python
by kirby urner 05 Mar '24

05 Mar '24

Long termers here will likely remember my fave Pythonic Pedagogy: to introduce special names as __ribs__. Because pythons have lots of __ribs__. I've not abandoned this idea, just haven't been redundantly reposting about it here for some time. But now... Why not share a couple "friend links" (nothing counts against a quota, no logging in I hope)?: https://kirbyurner.medium.com/grokking-python-9f96140c1e07?sk=d1ec6762e753d… https://kirbyurner.medium.com/pythons-rib-cage-e4ff16cf3a74?sk=3e59d2356de6… A two parter on Medium. I'm getting some claps. I can take criticisms too. Kirby

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How to Python soft cell infinite polyhedral tilings?
by Wes Turner 02 Mar '24

02 Mar '24

"Soft cells and the geometry of seashells" (2024) https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.04190 : > A central problem of geometry is the tiling of space with simple structures. The classical solutions, such as triangles, squares, and hexagons in the plane and cubes and other polyhedra in three-dimensional space are built with sharp corners and flat faces. However, many tilings in Nature are characterized by shapes with curved edges, non-flat faces, and few, if any, sharp corners. An important question is then to relate prototypical sharp tilings to softer natural shapes. Here, we solve this problem by introducing a new class of shapes, the \textit{soft cells}, minimizing the number of sharp corners and filling space as \emph{soft tilings}. We prove that an infinite class of polyhedral tilings can be smoothly deformed into soft tilings and we construct the soft versions of all Dirichlet-Voronoi cells associated with point lattices in two and three dimensions. Remarkably, these ideal soft shapes, born out of geometry, are found abundantly in nature, from cells to shells. Schema:NewsArticles about said schema.org/ScholarlyArticle: - https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/math/a46973545/soft-cells-secret-g… https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/mathematicians-discovered-secret-geometry-lif… : > The team believes that they’ve solved the problem of dimensions with this new “infinite class of polyhedral tilings” that can smoothly deform into soft tiles and construct soft versions of cells generally associated with point lattices in both two and three dimensions. [...] > > In two dimensions, these soft shell shapes are pretty easy to describe—according to the paper, they are “cells with curved boundaries which have only two corners.” In the three-dimensional space, things get a little more complicated, but the goal is the same: let things be bendy and minimize the amount of “corners” present. In 3D, a soft cell shape can have no corners at all. > > “We found that architects have found these kinds of shapes intuitively when they wanted to avoid corners,” Domokos said. A math thing to be Python'd. What [Python,] geometry software could do or does 2D, 3D, and N-D infinite polyhedral tilings like this?

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boosting sympy (again)
by kirby urner 11 Feb '24

11 Feb '24

I've linked to this Notebook previously, however seeing as it's on Github, it keeps getting updated (just by me in this scenario): https://nbviewer.org/github/4dsolutions/m4w/blob/main/Polyhedrons.ipynb Github view: https://github.com/4dsolutions/m4w/blob/main/Polyhedrons.ipynb This Notebook showcases what you get from the sympy module: * numeric evaluations to arbitrary precision * parallel keeping track of numeric values as algebraic expressions One could argue one gets this from Mathematica and I'd agree: Python has freed itself from the constraints of floating point and does computer algebra (CAS) to a decent level, by means of free open source libraries. My strategy continues to be to market this curriculum tech locally (e.g. here in Oregon), while advertising it more globally (e.g. via Lithuania). Kirby Addendum: More of that same geometry (links to said notebook): https://mybizmo.blogspot.com/2024/02/slinging-jargon.html Some history (re the Greater Pythonista community). https://worldgame.blogspot.com/2010/09/setting-up-djangocon.html Is there a pyhist-sig(a)python.org or like that?

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Python in K-12: good news (they're using Jupyter)
by kirby urner 25 Jan '24

25 Jan '24

Here's something for the archive about how Python continues to help me in my work as a K-16 curriculum developer. There's a link to a Jupyter Notebook running sympy towards the middle, with the surrounding text about how it looks to me like the schools are moving to Jupyter, judging from my own experience with regional faculties. Kirby Urner Oregon Curriculum Network ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: kirby urner <kirby.urner(a)gmail.com> Date: Thursday, January 25, 2024 at 7:39:09 AM UTC-8 Subject: Synergetics in K-12 To: trimtab-book-club(a)googlegroups.com <trimtab-book-club(a)googlegroups.com> The post below goes back to our TrimTab meetup with Siobhan Roberts and her bio of H.S.M. Coxeter. https://www.freelists.org/post/math4wisdom/Caring-for-our-legacies-Franz-Je…. ( public archive) That USA public schools have proved themselves largely incapable of incorporating useful K-12 content drawing from Synergetics has left them non-competitive vs-a-vs private schools that are finding ways. This deficiency could be addressed, however the quality of public school education has dropped much lower on the priorities list than it used to be, according to a public school worker I interviewed recently (I'm still looking for a key data visualization on that score). Kirby ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: *kirby urner* <kirby...(a)gmail.com> Date: Wed, Jan 24, 2024 at 7:43 PM Subject: Re: [math4wisdom] Re: Caring for our legacies: Franz, Jere, Kirby, Andrius... To: <math4...(a)gmail.com> Cc: math4wisdom <math4...(a)freelists.org> Greetings all -- I am glad to be hearing from Franz, who has a lively writing style about stuff I also care about. My last contribution to this listserv was before my car trip north, somewhat recapitulating a trip I did with Andrius in 2023. On my way back, I visited a small private school my friend works at and spoke with the math faculty. [0] I was gratified to discover they were already using the Jupyter technology I favor, along with other stuff. Enough time has passed such that students exposed to Jupyter in college are now career teachers and are passing the torch if / when free to do so. "Jupyter" (the word) is an amalgam of Julia Python R (Ju-Pyt-R) as these were the original kernel languages adopting what used to be called I-Python Notebook technology. The idea is to create interactive web pages that not only present static content, but that also allow browsers to run code in one or more languages. As a high school (and above) level math and computer science teacher, I appreciate the level of integration this technology provides and I showcase it extensively. To take a concrete example: I've continued making hay from the piece of trivium that 2024 (our year) is a tetrahedral number. The next one won't be until 2300. A tetrahedral number is formed by stacking triangular numbers, picture bowling balls or cannon balls. 1, 4, 10, 20... we're accumulating triangular layers, making the stack higher and higher. Start with 1, put 3 under it, but 6 under that, then a layer of 10... and so on. https://oeis.org/A000292 After a long drive from north of Seattle back to Portland today, I wanted to relax and unwind by figuring out why we get (n(n + 1)(n + 2))/6 for this sequence, where n is the layer number. Given 22 layers: 22(23)(24)/6 = 2024. Check. What we can do is assume some formula A n^3 + B n^2 + C^n + D (n = 1, 2, 3, 4...) does the trick and substitute known values for n paired with corresponding right answers. Our goal is to derive the unknowns A, B, C, D from the knowns. A + B + C + D = 1 when n = 1 8A + 4B = 2C + D = 4 when n = 2 27A + 9B + 3D + D = 10 when n = 3 64A + 16B + 4C + D = 20 when n = 4 That's four linear equations in four unknowns, in principle solvable using algorithms from linear algebra. I added a middle section on the formula's derivation to: https://nbviewer.org/github/4dsolutions/m4w/blob/main/Sequences.ipynb letting Python in a Jupyter Notebook do the "heavy lifting" i.e. the work of inverting the matrix defined above. Why am I sharing all this here? I want to keep building on figurate and polyhedral numbers as a topic, and as a gateway to higher maths. Triangular numbers are figurate (flat) whereas polyhedral numbers tend to be multi-layer, such as cubes, tetrahedrons, octahedrons. One of our more important polyhedral sequences 12, 42, 92, 162... is the number of balls in successive layers when you start with 12-around-1 in an omni symmetric pattern, that of the cuboctahedron. [1] In adding layers, the shape does not change. In her biography of the late H.S.M. Coxeter, a pioneer of higher dimensional Euclidean geometry based in the University of Toronto, Siobhan Roberts talks about the generating formula for said sequence 10 * n^2 + 2, and how Coxeter was appreciative of Buckminster Fuller for having derived it on his own, even though it doesn't take more than high school level skills to do so. [2] Fuller had a fascination for ball packing as a topic. From one of my online essays [3]: In a virus, the RNA-protecting shell or capsid is made from sub-units called capsomeres. By taking F as the number of between-capsomere intervals, and using 10F2+2 on capsid "shell frequencies" of 1,2,3,4,5 and 6, we obtain corresponding counts of 12, 42*, *92, 162, 252 and 812 capsomeres. "All of these numbers are in fact found in actual viruses, 12 for certain bacteriophages, 42 for wart viruses, 92 for reovirus, 162 for herpesvirus, 252 for adenovirus and 812 for a virus attacking crane-flies (Tipula or daddy-long-legs)" - *The Natural History of Viruses *by C.H. Andrews (W.W. Norton R Co., 1967). That Fuller's formula was good at predicting micro-architectural aspects of viruses was even a newspaper headline in the Herald Tribune. [4] In sum, we're into networking topics: figurate and polyhedral numbers, deriving their formulae, finding some of these patterns in nature, such as in the architecture of the virus. Kirby [0] https://worldgame.blogspot.com/2024/01/tetrahedron-year.html [1] https://www.amazon.com/King-Infinite-Space-Coxeter-Geometry/dp/0802714994 [2] she doesn't mention that it was this formula in particular, but other sources, including OEIS itself, make it clear that Fuller does indeed get a lot of credit for it. https://oeis.org/A005901 My website features in the Links section: K. Urner, Microarchitecture of the Virus <http://www.grunch.net/synergetics/virus.html> [3] http://www.4dsolutions.net/synergetica/synergetica2.html#top [4] https://www.google.com/books/edition/Critical_Path/mkvoDQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=…

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Makecode Arcade, pybricks/pybricksdev, LEGO PF/PU, open source Robots with docs, wokwi
by Wes Turner 11 Dec '23

11 Dec '23

A few cool tools for Python (and STEM) in application, OTOH: ## Makecode Makecode Arcade has Blocks <-> Python <-> JS - New Project > Blocks > +Extensions > Robotics > ~List all [Makecode-compatible devices] ### vscode.dev - https://vscode.dev/ - Install "python" extension - Install "pyodide" extension - Install "jupyter" extension - Open from GitHub - Run the Python in the Jupyter notebook locally - Save to GitHub ## Pybricks - Web: https://pybricks.com/ - Src: https://github.com/pybricks - Code and Flash LEGO smart hubs with Python - Flashes Python to the device WebBluetooth ## Pybricksdev - Docs: https://docs.pybricks.com/en/latest/ - Src: https://github.com/pybricks/pybricksdev - Flash LEGO smart hubs with Python - USB, ## pylgbst - Src: https://github.com/undera/pylgbst - https://github.com/undera/pylgbst/blob/master/docs/MoveHub.md - https://github.com/undera/pylgbst/blob/master/examples/vernie/go_towards_li… ### LEGOs with voltage; PU, EV3/NXT, PU - https://pv-productions.com/product/powered-up-to-ev3-nxt-adapter/ - https://pv-productions.com/product/powered-up-to-power-functions-adapter/ - https://pv-productions.com/product/power-functions-to-powered-up-adapter/ - https://www.biasedlogic.com/index.php/lego-powered-up-connector/ - -> "Pin", "Breadboard", "Breakout board", "HAT" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UL_(safety_organization)#Standards_for_Electr… ## Modality Integrated Learning - Lights (Bits as Voltage to Photons) - Sensors (Physical phenomena to Bits) - Servos (Rotations in radians or degrees,) - Motors (RPMs) - Things that spin; things that have mechanical angular momentum - All power tools, basically - https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=lego+machines - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1-YeqGynlw - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykIYP4z-eMk > I Put 44 Mechanisms In 1 LEGO® Machine! You'll see the testing of more than 40 Mechanical Principles/Mechanisms using LEGO® Technic parts ### LEGOs with voltage; PF, EV3/NXT, PU IIUC: - There are at least 3 connector specs in the LEGO(R) ecosystem: - PF: Power Functions (2009+) - LPF2: LEGO Power Functions 2 - Technic - WeDo 2.0, SPIKE Prime - NXT/EV3 (2006/2013) - PU: Powered Up (2016+) - Boost - Move Hub with 2x Ports, 2x embedded motors, and BLE - City Trains - Hub with 2x Ports, and BLE - https://pv-productions.com/product/powered-up-to-ev3-nxt-adapter/ - https://pv-productions.com/product/powered-up-to-power-functions-adapter/ - https://pv-productions.com/product/power-functions-to-powered-up-adapter/ - https://pv-productions.com/product/powered-up-splitter-cable/ > - https://www.biasedlogic.com/index.php/lego-powered-up-connector/ - -> "Pin", "Breadboard", "Breakout board", "HAT" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UL_(safety_organization)#Standards_for_Electr… - https://www.lego.com/en-us/themes/powered-up/about - (e.g.) LEGO Boost Creative Toolbox has 1x LEGO Move Hub (which works with their apps, pybricks, and pylgbst,), has 2 ports, and 2 integrated motors - https://www.google.com/search?q=building+instructions+for+lego+17101 - Sometimes, PDF Building Instructions are easier to work with than an app on a tablet that keeps going to sleep. - https://trevorsandy.github.io/lpub3d/ - This looks like a good way to document 3d building instructions. - Is there a way to connect LEGO PU motors and sensors to a Pi with a 2x20 Pin (~IDE) HAT - https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/build-hat/ > The Build HAT also supports motors and sensors from the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor kit, as well as most other LEGO devices that use an LPF2 connector. - Does that mean it works with PU, or is there no product to connect LEGO PU motors from our one kit to our one Pi ? - https://uk.pi-supply.com/collections/all-raspberry-pi-hats-and-phats/produc… - USB to 2x20 Pin GPIO ### SunFounder - Src: https://github.com/sunfounder - Docs: https://docs.sunfounder.com/projects/thales-kit/en/latest/components/resist… - Docs: https://docs.sunfounder.com/projects/thales-kit/en/latest/micropython/for_m… ### Elecfreaks - Src: https://github.com/elecfreaks - Docs: https://www.elecfreaks.com/learn/en/ - https://shop.elecfreaks.com/products/elecfreaks-micro-bit-32-in-1-wonder-bu… - Microbit to 2x motors and 16 PWMs - https://www.amazon.com/SEEMEY-Power-Function-Kit-Pins-Gears-Axles-Compatibl… - https://www.aliexpress.us/w/wholesale-lego-technic.html ### Yahboom - Src: https://github.com/YahboomTechnology - Docs: http://www.yahboom.net/download - Docs: inurl:http://www.yahboom.net/study/ ### Freenove - Src: https://github.com/Freenove - Docs: https://www.freenove.com/tutorial ### Wokwi Simulator - https://wokwi.com/ - https://wokwi.com/projects/new/micropython-pi-pico - What is PWM? How to fade an LED on and off, control a servo, control a case fan with variable speed - In the Wokwi simulator, when you pause || the circuit that runs your {Python,} code, and then hover over a pin, it shows the pin state; high, low, - Makecode Arcade and TinkerCode are also a simulators that don't require actual devices ## Actual work tho, - https://github.com/marketplace/actions/setup-micromamba - [ ] Write a Dockerfile that installs your stuff - [ ] Make sure that your repo with an /environment.yml works with: ```sh pip install pipx; pipx install jupyter-repo2docker # or just: pip install jupyter-repo2docker jupyter-repo2docker --no-build --debug . jupyter-repo2docker --no-build --debug https://github.com/binder-examples/conda ``` - https://repo2docker.readthedocs.io/en/latest/usage.html - https://mybinder.readthedocs.io/en/latest/examples/sample_repos.html - https://github.com/binder-examples/conda

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