“Teaching Computer Based Math and Computer Science Using Python”

Andrei CORLAT, Doctor în matematică, Şef Catedra Matematică şi Informatică, UnAŞM

Oxana GRAJDIANU, UnAŞM

Teaching Mathematics

Teaching Computer ScienceYoung people consider themselves "digital natives" because they can text and chat and play games, “but using technologies doesn’t really make one a digital native or fluent in technology.”

Mitch Resnick at TEDxBeaconStreet

Computer Based Mathematics

Benefits of Programming for learning Mathematics“Learning to code means learning how to think creatively, reason systematically and work collaboratively. And these skills are applicable to any profession — as well as to expressing yourself inyour personal life, too."

Mitch Resnick

Python as the first programming language● Simple● Easy to Learn● Free and Open Source● High-level Language● Portable ● Interpreted● Object Oriented● Extensible● Embeddable

Peculiarities of Python Programming Language

Position Mar 2014

PositionMar 2013

Delta in position

Programming language Share in Marc 2014

Twelve monthtrends

1 1 Java 26.9 % -0.5 % 2 2 PHP 13.5 % -1.5 %

3 4 Python 10.6 % +0.6 % 4 3 C# 10.5 % -0.1 %

5 5 C++ 8.8 % -0.5 %

6 6 C 8.1 % +0.2 %

7 7 Javascript 8.0 % +0 % 8 8 Objective-C 6.4 % +1.6 %

9 9 Visual Basic 3.1 % +0.3 % 10 10 Ruby 2.5 % +0 %

© 2014 Pierre Carbonnelle

Comparing Python to other programming languagesThe "Hello, world" program in Python is about as simple as it can get:

>>> print "Hello, world!"Hello, world!

In Java, much more overhead is needed:

class HelloWorld { public static void main(String[] args) { System.out.println("Hello, world!"); }}

Comparing Python to other programming languagesThe "Hello, world" program in Python is about as simple as it can get:

>>> print "Hello, world!"Hello, world!

In Pascal Programming Language:

program HelloWorld;begin writeln('Hello World');end.

Python in SchoolsPython and Math is an approach to apply programming skills to solving

math problems. Here are the main objectives:

● Introduce programmers to solving math problems

using programming.

● Practice problem-solving skills

using programming.

● Introduce new skills and techniques

that increase the efficiency of programs.

Unlock the Power of Computer with PythonThere are two main advantages that programming a computer has over doing the calculation yourself:

● Speed: computers can do more calculations in a second than most will do in their lifetime.

● Repetition: computers do the same thing over and over and never complain.

Gauss and Loops >>> total = 0 #A variable storing our running total.

>>> for x in range(1,101): #Range(1,101) stops at 100.

total = total + x #Code inside a loop is indented.

>>> print(total) 5050

Randomness and Case Statements>>> import random>>> flipResult = 0>>> heads = 0>>> tails = 0>>> for flips in range(1,101): flipResult = random.randint(1,2) if (flipResult == 1): print ("Heads") #Students like seeing the flip results. heads = heads + 1 if(flipResult == 2): print ("Tails") tails = tails + 1

>>> print ("heads= %i" % heads) >>> print ("tails= %i" % tails) >>> print(heads/tails)

Randomness and Case Statements - Output

TailsTailsHeadsTailsTailsTailsHeadsTailsHeadsTailsTailsTailsTailsTailsHeadsHeadsTailsTailsHeadsTailsTailsHeadsHeadsHeadsTails

TailsTailsTailsHeadsTailsHeadsHeadsTailsTailsHeadsHeadsTailsHeadsTailsTailsHeadsHeadsTailsTailsHeadsHeadsHeadsTailsTailsTails

HeadsTailsHeadsTailsHeadsHeadsTailsHeadsTailsTailsTailsHeadsHeadsTailsHeadsTailsheads = 45tails = 550.8181818181818182