[Edu-sig] docs.tutorial function example - too complicated

[Andrew Harrington]

I do a very slow, step by step introduction to functions in
http://anh.cs.luc.edu/python/hands-on/3.1/handsonHtml/functions.html

Lots of students have enormous difficulties with functions.

Andy


On Sat, Dec 15, 2012 at 5:52 PM, Jurgis Pralgauskis <
jurgis.pralgauskis at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> currently more and more schools are trying Py,
> so studens read tutorial docs from time to time...
> and one of main programming (architecture) subjects starts with quite
> a mathematical and unpractical example..
>
> http://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/controlflow.html#defining-functions
> It's like teaching to pilot airplane, prior to bicycle and car :)
>
>
> I'd propose some simple examples at first:
> like in
> http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Non-Programmer%27s_Tutorial_for_Python_3/Defining_Functions
> or http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/functions/
>
> def greeting( person ):
>        print( "Hello", person )
>
> def add(a, b):
>       result = a+b
>       return result
>
> z = add(3, 5)
> # could aslso graphically show, how data (arguments/results) travel
> # as in C++ example
>
>
> def absolute_value(n):
>     if n < 0:
>         n = -n
>     return n
>
> def count_down( n ):
>      while n > 0:
>         print( n )
>         n = n-1
>
> def average( mylist ):
>     return sum(mylist) / len(mylist)
>
> def decide_on_scholarship( marks ):
>     avg = average(marks)
>     if avg > 9.5:
>         return 1000
>     elif avg >= 8:
>         return 200
>     else:
>         return 0
>
>
> Maybe there is some other list, where it would be more appropriate to
> discuss this?
> --
> Jurgis Pralgauskis
> tel: 8-616 77613;
> Don't worry, be happy and make things better ;)
> http://galvosukykla.lt
> _______________________________________________
> Edu-sig mailing list
> Edu-sig at python.org
> http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
>



-- 
Dr. Andrew N. Harrington
  Computer Science Department
  Loyola University Chicago
Lakeshore office in the Math Department: 104 Loyola Hall
http://www.cs.luc.edu/~anh
Phone: 312-915-7999
Fax:    312-915-7998
aharrin at luc.edu
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