Python and Algorithmic Thinking for the Complete Beginner

Python and Algorithmic Thinking for the Complete Beginner
Author: Aristides Bouras
Publisher: Packt Publishing Ltd
Total Pages: 908
Release: 2024-06-14
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 1836209266

Unlock the power of Python with this comprehensive guide, “Python and Algorithmic Thinking for the Complete Beginner.” It covers everything from computer basics to advanced decision and loop control structures. Key Features Comprehensive coverage from basic computer operations to advanced programming concepts Step-by-step progression of each topic, along with tips and tricks to enhance coding efficiency In-depth exploration of Python and algorithmic thinking with exercises and practical examples Book DescriptionThis course is meticulously designed to take beginners on a journey through the fascinating world of Python programming and algorithmic thinking. The initial chapters lay a strong foundation, starting with the basics of how computers operate, moving into Python programming, and familiarizing learners with integrated development environments like IDLE and Visual Studio Code. Further, the course delves into essential programming constructs such as variables, constants, input/output handling, and operators. You'll gain practical experience with trace tables, sequence control structures, and decision control structures through comprehensive exercises and examples. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning with chapters dedicated to manipulating numbers, strings, and understanding complex mathematical expressions. By mastering these concepts, you'll be well-prepared to tackle more advanced topics. The final chapters introduce you to object-oriented programming and file manipulation, rounding out your skill set. Throughout the course, practical tips and tricks are provided to enhance your coding efficiency and problem-solving skills. By the end of this course, you will have a robust understanding of Python programming and the ability to apply algorithmic thinking to solve real-world problems.What you will learn Understand how computers work and the basics of Python programming Install and use integrated development environments (IDEs) Develop skills in decision and loop control structures Manipulate data using lists, dictionaries, and strings Apply algorithmic thinking to solve complex problems Gain proficiency in object-oriented programming & file manipulation Who this book is for This course is ideal for absolute beginners with no prior programming experience. Basic computer literacy is required, but no specific knowledge of programming or algorithms is necessary. It is also suitable for individuals looking to refresh their Python skills and enhance their understanding of algorithmic thinking. High school and college students interested in programming, professionals seeking to upskill, and hobbyists eager to learn a new programming language will all find value in this course.

C# and Algorithmic Thinking for the Complete Beginner (2nd Edition)

C# and Algorithmic Thinking for the Complete Beginner (2nd Edition)
Author: Aristides S. Bouras
Publisher:
Total Pages: 746
Release: 2019-12-17
Genre:
ISBN: 9781671594364

Thoroughly revised for the latest version of C#, this book explains basic concepts in a clear and explicit way that takes very seriously one thing for granted-that the reader knows nothing about computer programming. Addressed to anyone who has no prior programming knowledge or experience, but a desire to learn programming with C#, it teaches the first thing that every novice programmer needs to learn, which is Algorithmic Thinking. Algorithmic Thinking involves more than just learning code. It is a problem-solving process that involves learning how to code. This edition contains all the popular features of the previous edition and adds a significant number of exercises, as well as extensive revisions and updates. Apart from C# 's arrays, it now also covers dictionaries, while a brand new section provides an effective introduction to the next field that a programmer needs to work with, which is Object Oriented Programming (OOP). This book has a class course structure with questions and exercises at the end of each chapter so you can test what you have learned right away and improve your comprehension. With 250 solved and 450 unsolved exercises, 475 true/false, about 150 multiple choice, and 200 review questions and crosswords (the solutions and the answers to which can be found on the Internet), this book is ideal for novices or average programmers, for self-study high school students first-year college or university students teachers professors anyone who wants to start learning or teaching computer programming using the proper conventions and techniques

Algorithmic Thinking

Algorithmic Thinking
Author: Daniel Zingaro
Publisher: No Starch Press
Total Pages: 409
Release: 2020-12-15
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 1718500807

A hands-on, problem-based introduction to building algorithms and data structures to solve problems with a computer. Algorithmic Thinking will teach you how to solve challenging programming problems and design your own algorithms. Daniel Zingaro, a master teacher, draws his examples from world-class programming competitions like USACO and IOI. You'll learn how to classify problems, choose data structures, and identify appropriate algorithms. You'll also learn how your choice of data structure, whether a hash table, heap, or tree, can affect runtime and speed up your algorithms; and how to adopt powerful strategies like recursion, dynamic programming, and binary search to solve challenging problems. Line-by-line breakdowns of the code will teach you how to use algorithms and data structures like: The breadth-first search algorithm to find the optimal way to play a board game or find the best way to translate a book Dijkstra's algorithm to determine how many mice can exit a maze or the number of fastest routes between two locations The union-find data structure to answer questions about connections in a social network or determine who are friends or enemies The heap data structure to determine the amount of money given away in a promotion The hash-table data structure to determine whether snowflakes are unique or identify compound words in a dictionary NOTE: Each problem in this book is available on a programming-judge website. You'll find the site's URL and problem ID in the description. What's better than a free correctness check?

Visual Basic and Algorithmic Thinking for the Complete Beginner

Visual Basic and Algorithmic Thinking for the Complete Beginner
Author: Aristides Bouras
Publisher: CreateSpace
Total Pages: 800
Release: 2015-04-30
Genre:
ISBN: 9781511798969

This book is for anyone who wants to learn computer programming and knows absolutely nothing about it. Of course, if you are wondering whether this book is going to teach you how to create amazing applets or incredible desktop or mobile applications, the answer is "no"-that is a job for other books. So many books out there can teach you those skills in Visual Basic, C#, or Java. Many of them even claim that they can teach you in 24 hours! Don't laugh! They probably can do that, but all of them take one thing for granted-that the reader knows some basics about computer programming. None of those books, unfortunately, bothers to teach you the first thing that a novice programmer needs to learn, which is "Algorithmic Thinking." Algorithmic Thinking involves more than just learning code. It is a problem solving process that involves learning how to code. With 800 pages, and containing more than 300 solved and 400 unsolved exercises, over 450 true/false, 150 multiple choice, and 180 review questions (the solutions and the answers to which can be found on the Internet), this book is ideal for students, teachers, professors, novices or average programmers, or for anyone who wants to start learning or teaching computer programming using the proper conventions and techniques.

Learn to Code by Solving Problems

Learn to Code by Solving Problems
Author: Daniel Zingaro
Publisher: No Starch Press
Total Pages: 392
Release: 2021-06-29
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 1718501331

Learn to Code by Solving Problems is a practical introduction to programming using Python. It uses coding-competition challenges to teach you the mechanics of coding and how to think like a savvy programmer. Computers are capable of solving almost any problem when given the right instructions. That’s where programming comes in. This beginner’s book will have you writing Python programs right away. You’ll solve interesting problems drawn from real coding competitions and build your programming skills as you go. Every chapter presents problems from coding challenge websites, where online judges test your solutions and provide targeted feedback. As you practice using core Python features, functions, and techniques, you’ll develop a clear understanding of data structures, algorithms, and other programming basics. Bonus exercises invite you to explore new concepts on your own, and multiple-choice questions encourage you to think about how each piece of code works. You’ll learn how to: Run Python code, work with strings, and use variables Write programs that make decisions Make code more efficient with while and for loops Use Python sets, lists, and dictionaries to organize, sort, and search data Design programs using functions and top-down design Create complete-search algorithms and use Big O notation to design more efficient code By the end of the book, you’ll not only be proficient in Python, but you’ll also understand how to think through problems and tackle them with code. Programming languages come and go, but this book gives you the lasting foundation you need to start thinking like a programmer.

Artificial Intelligence with Python

Artificial Intelligence with Python
Author: Prateek Joshi
Publisher: Packt Publishing Ltd
Total Pages: 437
Release: 2017-01-27
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 1786469677

Build real-world Artificial Intelligence applications with Python to intelligently interact with the world around you About This Book Step into the amazing world of intelligent apps using this comprehensive guide Enter the world of Artificial Intelligence, explore it, and create your own applications Work through simple yet insightful examples that will get you up and running with Artificial Intelligence in no time Who This Book Is For This book is for Python developers who want to build real-world Artificial Intelligence applications. This book is friendly to Python beginners, but being familiar with Python would be useful to play around with the code. It will also be useful for experienced Python programmers who are looking to use Artificial Intelligence techniques in their existing technology stacks. What You Will Learn Realize different classification and regression techniques Understand the concept of clustering and how to use it to automatically segment data See how to build an intelligent recommender system Understand logic programming and how to use it Build automatic speech recognition systems Understand the basics of heuristic search and genetic programming Develop games using Artificial Intelligence Learn how reinforcement learning works Discover how to build intelligent applications centered on images, text, and time series data See how to use deep learning algorithms and build applications based on it In Detail Artificial Intelligence is becoming increasingly relevant in the modern world where everything is driven by technology and data. It is used extensively across many fields such as search engines, image recognition, robotics, finance, and so on. We will explore various real-world scenarios in this book and you'll learn about various algorithms that can be used to build Artificial Intelligence applications. During the course of this book, you will find out how to make informed decisions about what algorithms to use in a given context. Starting from the basics of Artificial Intelligence, you will learn how to develop various building blocks using different data mining techniques. You will see how to implement different algorithms to get the best possible results, and will understand how to apply them to real-world scenarios. If you want to add an intelligence layer to any application that's based on images, text, stock market, or some other form of data, this exciting book on Artificial Intelligence will definitely be your guide! Style and approach This highly practical book will show you how to implement Artificial Intelligence. The book provides multiple examples enabling you to create smart applications to meet the needs of your organization. In every chapter, we explain an algorithm, implement it, and then build a smart application.

Dive Into Algorithms

Dive Into Algorithms
Author: Bradford Tuckfield
Publisher: No Starch Press
Total Pages: 250
Release: 2021-01-05
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 1718500696

Dive Into Algorithms is a broad introduction to algorithms using the Python Programming Language. Dive Into Algorithms is a wide-ranging, Pythonic tour of many of the world's most interesting algorithms. With little more than a bit of computer programming experience and basic high-school math, you'll explore standard computer science algorithms for searching, sorting, and optimization; human-based algorithms that help us determine how to catch a baseball or eat the right amount at a buffet; and advanced algorithms like ones used in machine learning and artificial intelligence. You'll even explore how ancient Egyptians and Russian peasants used algorithms to multiply numbers, how the ancient Greeks used them to find greatest common divisors, and how Japanese scholars in the age of samurai designed algorithms capable of generating magic squares. You'll explore algorithms that are useful in pure mathematics and learn how mathematical ideas can improve algorithms. You'll learn about an algorithm for generating continued fractions, one for quick calculations of square roots, and another for generating seemingly random sets of numbers. You'll also learn how to: • Use algorithms to debug code, maximize revenue, schedule tasks, and create decision trees • Measure the efficiency and speed of algorithms • Generate Voronoi diagrams for use in various geometric applications • Use algorithms to build a simple chatbot, win at board games, or solve sudoku puzzles • Write code for gradient ascent and descent algorithms that can find the maxima and minima of functions • Use simulated annealing to perform global optimization • Build a decision tree to predict happiness based on a person's characteristics Once you've finished this book you'll understand how to code and implement important algorithms as well as how to measure and optimize their performance, all while learning the nitty-gritty details of today's most powerful algorithms.

Python for Kids, 2nd Edition

Python for Kids, 2nd Edition
Author: Jason R. Briggs
Publisher: No Starch Press
Total Pages: 365
Release: 2022-11-15
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 1718503032

The second edition of the best-selling Python for Kids—which brings you (and your parents) into the world of programming—has been completely updated to use the latest version of Python, along with tons of new projects! Python is a powerful programming language that’s easy to learn and fun to use! But books about programming in Python can be dull and that’s no fun for anyone. Python for Kids brings kids (and their parents) into the wonderful world of programming. Jason R. Briggs guides you through the basics, experimenting with unique (and hilarious) example programs featuring ravenous monsters, secret agents, thieving ravens, and more. New terms are defined; code is colored and explained; puzzles stretch the brain and strengthen understanding; and full-color illustrations keep you engaged throughout. By the end of the book, you’ll have programmed two games: a clone of the famous Pong, and “Mr. Stick Man Races for the Exit”—a platform game with jumps and animation. This second edition is revised and updated to reflect Python 3 programming practices. There are new puzzles to inspire you and two new appendices to guide you through Python’s built-in modules and troubleshooting your code. As you strike out on your programming adventure, you’ll learn how to: Use fundamental data structures like lists, tuples, and dictionaries Organize and reuse your code with functions and modules Use control structures like loops and conditional statements Draw shapes and patterns with Python’s turtle module Create games, animations, and other graphical wonders with tkinter Why should serious adults have all the fun? Python for Kids is your ticket into the amazing world of computer programming. Covers Python 3.x which runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, even Raspberry Pi

Applied Computational Thinking with Python

Applied Computational Thinking with Python
Author: Sofía De Jesús
Publisher: Packt Publishing Ltd
Total Pages: 420
Release: 2020-11-27
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 183921676X

Use the computational thinking philosophy to solve complex problems by designing appropriate algorithms to produce optimal results across various domains Key FeaturesDevelop logical reasoning and problem-solving skills that will help you tackle complex problemsExplore core computer science concepts and important computational thinking elements using practical examplesFind out how to identify the best-suited algorithmic solution for your problemBook Description Computational thinking helps you to develop logical processing and algorithmic thinking while solving real-world problems across a wide range of domains. It's an essential skill that you should possess to keep ahead of the curve in this modern era of information technology. Developers can apply their knowledge of computational thinking to solve problems in multiple areas, including economics, mathematics, and artificial intelligence. This book begins by helping you get to grips with decomposition, pattern recognition, pattern generalization and abstraction, and algorithm design, along with teaching you how to apply these elements practically while designing solutions for challenging problems. You’ll then learn about various techniques involved in problem analysis, logical reasoning, algorithm design, clusters and classification, data analysis, and modeling, and understand how computational thinking elements can be used together with these aspects to design solutions. Toward the end, you will discover how to identify pitfalls in the solution design process and how to choose the right functionalities to create the best possible algorithmic solutions. By the end of this algorithm book, you will have gained the confidence to successfully apply computational thinking techniques to software development. What you will learnFind out how to use decomposition to solve problems through visual representationEmploy pattern generalization and abstraction to design solutionsBuild analytical skills required to assess algorithmic solutionsUse computational thinking with Python for statistical analysisUnderstand the input and output needs for designing algorithmic solutionsUse computational thinking to solve data processing problemsIdentify errors in logical processing to refine your solution designApply computational thinking in various domains, such as cryptography, economics, and machine learningWho this book is for This book is for students, developers, and professionals looking to develop problem-solving skills and tactics involved in writing or debugging software programs and applications. Familiarity with Python programming is required.

Think Python

Think Python
Author: Allen B. Downey
Publisher: "O'Reilly Media, Inc."
Total Pages: 309
Release: 2015-12-02
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 1491939419

If you want to learn how to program, working with Python is an excellent way to start. This hands-on guide takes you through the language a step at a time, beginning with basic programming concepts before moving on to functions, recursion, data structures, and object-oriented design. This second edition and its supporting code have been updated for Python 3. Through exercises in each chapter, youâ??ll try out programming concepts as you learn them. Think Python is ideal for students at the high school or college level, as well as self-learners, home-schooled students, and professionals who need to learn programming basics. Beginners just getting their feet wet will learn how to start with Python in a browser. Start with the basics, including language syntax and semantics Get a clear definition of each programming concept Learn about values, variables, statements, functions, and data structures in a logical progression Discover how to work with files and databases Understand objects, methods, and object-oriented programming Use debugging techniques to fix syntax, runtime, and semantic errors Explore interface design, data structures, and GUI-based programs through case studies