Introduction to Computing

Course description

This course aims to provide students with an understanding of the role computation can play in problem solving. It also aims to help students, regardless of their computing background, to feel confident of their ability to write small programs that allow them to accomplish useful goals. The class will use the Python™ programming language. The course also intends to familiarize students with the Linux operating system.

Lectures

Below are lecture slides in PDF. The slides are not intended to make sense without attending the lecture.

• Introduction (Lecture 1) (44 kB pdf)
• If and While statements (96 kB pdf)
• Common programming patterns, Tuples, Lists, Functions (85 kB pdf)
• Functions, Lists (60 KB)
• Lists, Dictionaries, Pseudocode
• Introduction to efficiency
• Exceptions, Assertions, and Debugging
• Classes
• Classes (updated)External resources
  • MIT OCW lecture on Abstract data types and classes
  • Introduction to classes in Python
• Plotting
• Fortran

Labs

Lab 1

Lab 2 Solution

Lab 3 Solution

Lab 4 Solution

Lab 5 Solution

Lab 6 Solution

Lab 7 Solution

Lab 8 Solution

Lab 9 Solution

Lab 10

Lab 11