Interactive Python Course: Step-by-Step Lessons

Introduction

Welcome to this comprehensive, hands-on interactive Python course! In this course, you’ll progress from foundational concepts to more advanced topics, while practicing in real time using Quarto Live and Pyodide. Each lesson builds on the previous one and includes practical examples, exercises, and challenges to solidify your learning.

Lesson 1: Variables, Data Types, and Printing

Overview:
Learn how to assign variables, understand basic data types (int, float, str, bool), and use the print() function to display output.

Example Code

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# Define variables of various types

my_int = 10

my_float = 3.14

my_str = "Hello, Python!"

my_bool = True

# Print the variables and their types

print("my_int =", my_int, "Type:", type(my_int))

print("my_float =", my_float, "Type:", type(my_float))

print("my_str =", my_str, "Type:", type(my_str))

print("my_bool =", my_bool, "Type:", type(my_bool))

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Try It

Modify the values or add new variables to see the effect.

Lesson 2: Control Flow and Loops

Overview:
Explore conditional statements (if, elif, else) and loops (for and while) to control the flow of your programs.

Example Code

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# If-else example

number = 7

if number > 5:

print(f"{number} is greater than 5")

else:

print(f"{number} is not greater than 5")

# For loop example

fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]

for fruit in fruits:

print("Fruit:", fruit)

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Try It

Change the condition or list to see dynamic output.

Lesson 3: Functions

Overview:
Learn how to define and use functions to encapsulate reusable blocks of code. Understand parameters and return values.

Example Code

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# Define a function to calculate the square of a number

def square(x):

return x * x

# Test the function

value = 5

result = square(value)

print(f"The square of {value} is {result}.")

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Try It

Modify the function to compute a cube or add more parameters.

Lesson 4: Basic Data Structures

Overview:
Understand lists, dictionaries, tuples, and sets to store and manage data collections.

Example Code

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# List example

numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4]

numbers.append(5)

print("Numbers list:", numbers)

# Dictionary example

ages = {"Alice": 30, "Bob": 25}

ages["Charlie"] = 35

print("Ages dictionary:", ages)

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Try It

Experiment with creating and modifying different data structures.

Lesson 5: Putting It All Together

Overview:
Combine variables, control flow, functions, and data structures into a cohesive program. Solve a challenge by filtering even numbers and doubling them.

Example Code

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def double_evens(nums):

even_nums = []

for n in nums:

if n % 2 == 0:

even_nums.append(n * 2)

return even_nums

my_list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

result = double_evens(my_list)

print("Original list:", my_list)

print("Doubled evens:", result)

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Try It

Modify the function to filter odd numbers or include additional logic.

Lesson 6: Error Handling and Debugging

Overview:
Learn how to write robust code using try and except to handle errors, and get tips on debugging.

Example Code

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def safe_divide(a, b):

try:

return a / b

except ZeroDivisionError:

print("Error: Cannot divide by zero.")

return None

print("10 divided by 2 is", safe_divide(10, 2))

print("10 divided by 0 is", safe_divide(10, 0))

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Try It

Extend the function to handle other errors, such as type mismatches.

Lesson 7: Advanced Data Structures and Object-Oriented Programming

Overview:
Expand your Python skills by exploring advanced data structures (like tuples and sets) and learn the basics of object-oriented programming (OOP).

Example Code (Advanced Data Structures)

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# Working with tuples and sets

my_tuple = (1, 2, 3)

my_set = {1, 2, 2, 3, 4}

print("Tuple:", my_tuple)

print("Set (duplicates removed):", my_set)

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Example Code (OOP Basics)

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# Define a simple class

class Person:

def __init__(self, name, age):

self.name = name

self.age = age

def greet(self):

return f"Hello, my name is {self.name} and I'm {self.age} years old."

person = Person("Alice", 30)

print(person.greet())

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Try It

Create your own class with additional attributes and methods.

Lesson 8: Real-World Project: Interactive To-Do List

Overview:
Apply what you’ve learned by building a mini project—a simple interactive to-do list application that lets users add tasks.

Example Code

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# A simple interactive to-do list

# Define an empty list for tasks

todo_list = []

def add_task(task):

todo_list.append(task)

print("Task added:", task)

def show_tasks():

if todo_list:

print("Your To-Do List:")

for i, task in enumerate(todo_list, 1):

print(f"{i}. {task}")

else:

print("Your to-do list is empty.")

# Simulate adding tasks

add_task("Buy groceries")

add_task("Call Bob")

show_tasks()

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Try It

Extend the project to include task removal or marking tasks as complete.

Interactive Exercise: Tip Calculator

Overview:
In this exercise, you’ll create a function to calculate the total amount to be paid on a bill by adding a tip. The function should convert the tip percentage into a decimal and add it to the original bill. Your task is to fill in the blank with the correct value. After running your code, an automatic grading block will provide immediate feedback on your answer.

Exercise

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# Write a function called calculate_tip that takes two arguments:

# - bill: the total bill amount (a float)

# - tip_percentage: the tip percentage (as a number)

# The function should return the total amount to be paid: bill plus the tip.

# For example, calculate_tip(100, 15) should return 115.

def calculate_tip(bill, tip_percentage):

# Calculate the tip amount by converting tip_percentage to a decimal.

tip = bill * tip_percentage / ______

return bill + tip

# Test the function with a sample input

result = calculate_tip(100, 15)

print("The total amount for a $100 bill with a 15% tip is", result)

result

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Show Solution

def calculate_tip(bill, tip_percentage):
    tip = bill * tip_percentage / 100
    return bill + tip

result = calculate_tip(100, 15)
print("The total amount for a $100 bill with a 15% tip is", result)

Conclusion

Through these step-by-step lessons, you’ve built a solid foundation in Python—from the basics of variables and control flow to more advanced topics like error handling, OOP, and real-world projects. Practice the examples, complete the exercises, and explore the further reading resources to deepen your knowledge and build more sophisticated interactive Python applications.

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