Chapter 4: Functions

Question 1

A general process for solving a category of problems.

Answer 1

algorithm

Question 2

A value provided to a function when the function is called. This value is assigned to the corresponding parameter in the function.

Answer 2

argument

Question 3

The sequence of statements inside a function definition.

Answer 3

body

Question 4

Using an expression as part of a larger expression, or a statement as part of a larger statement.

Answer 4

composition

Question 5

Pertaining to a program that does the same thing each time it runs, given the same inputs.

Answer 5

deterministic

Question 6

The syntax for calling a function in another module by specifying the module name followed by a period and the function name.

Answer 6

dot notation

Question 7

The order in which statements are executed during a program run.

Answer 7

flow of execution

Question 8

A function that returns a value.
Value needs to be printed or saved to variable in a script. Displays in interactive mode.

Answer 8

fruitful function

Question 9

A named sequence of statements that performs some useful operation. May or may not take arguments and may or may not produce a result.

Answer 9

function

Question 10

A statement that executes a function. It consists of the function name followed by an argument list.

Answer 10

function call

Question 11

A statement that creates a new function, specifying its name, parameters, and the statements it executes.

Answer 11

function definition

Question 12

A value created by a function definition. The name of the function is a variable that refers to it.

Answer 12

function object

Question 13

The first line of a function definition.

Answer 13

header

Question 14

A statement that reads a module file and creates a module object.

Answer 14

import statement

Question 15

A value created by an import statement that provides access to the data and code defined in a module.

Answer 15

module object

Question 16

A name used inside a function to refer to the value passed as an argument.

Answer 16

parameter

Question 17

Pertaining to a sequence of numbers that appear to be random, but are generated by a deterministic program.

Answer 17

pseudorandom

Question 18

The result of a function. If a function call is used as an expression, it’s the value of the expression.
Saved into a variable for use outside the function

Answer 18

return value

Question 19

A function that does not return a value.

Answer 19

void function

Question 20

built-in function that returns smallest value
(strings: a < z)

Answer 20

min function
min()

Question 21

built-in function that returns largest value
(strings: z > a)

Answer 21

max function
max()

Question 22

built-in function that returns number of items in object
eg. sequence (string,list) or collection

Answer 22

length function
len()

Question 23

Sequence types (7)

Answer 23

 strings
 unicode strings
 lists
 tuples
 bytearrays
 buffers
 xrange objects

Question 24

ordered sequence of items that is referred to by a single name, such that any given item within it can be specified by
using that name along with an index value that selects that item
uses [] brackets

Answer 24

list

Question 25

function that generates random value between 0.0 and 1.0 (excluded)

Answer 25

random function
random.random()

Question 26

function that generates random value between low and high parameters (included)

Answer 26

randint function
random.randint(1,10)

Question 27

function that selects an element from a given sequence at random
(eg. string or list)

Answer 27

choice function
random.choice(string/list)

Question 28

end function in interactive mode

Answer 28

empty line
…

Question 29

method to embed single quotes within string

Answer 29

triple quotes
“"”I’m a lumberjack and I’m ok”””

Question 30

take a complex process and break it down into a set of simpler functions.
aka functions calling other functions

Answer 30

functional decomposition