Week 2: September 9 - 11

We continue our introduction to Python, and begin to create graphs in IPython Notebook.

IPython Notebook

• IPython "magics": %run, %pylab
• Saving .png files from notebooks
• Using notebooks to develop and save code

Python

• plot
• Lists
• append
• List indexing and slicing
• List concatenation
• range
• for loops

Weekly Reports

• Embedding images

Quiz 1

• Mathematical operations
• Variable assignment
• print
• Boolean expressions
• if
• while
• def
• import
• The dir function
• Comments

Assignment 1: Pythagorean Triples

Pythagorean triples are positive integer solutions (a, b, c) to the equation a² + b² = c². "Primitive Pythagorean Triples" are those for which a, b, and c are relatively prime (have no common divisor greater than 1).

Activity:

• Generate all "Primitive Pythagorean Triples" for a, b ≤ 5000.
• See if there is any discernible structure in the PPTs.
• Write a report containing your results and conclusions.

Tools:

• Use mygcd(a, b) = 1 to check if a and b are relatively prime.
• Need to test if a² + b² is a perfect square - write a function to do this.
• Generate graphs using plot to look for patterns.
• Python code for testing your is_square function.