Expressions and Variables 1

Think about what value each of the following expressions will return? Check your answers using the Python interpreter by typing each expression into the interpreter and pressing enter.

1. 2 - 10
2. 3 * 5
3. 8 / 2
4. 9 / 2
5. 9.0 / 2
6. 5 - 3 * 2
7. (5 - 3) * 2
8. 4 ** 2
9. 8 / 2 ** 2

Did any of the results surprise you? If so, then you’ve probably run into a common point of confusion in Python 2 - Integer Division.

Now turn this set of expressions into a program that you can save by using the editor. For each expression add one line to the editor as part of a print statement to display the answer to the screen.

To tell someone reading the code what this section of the code is about, add a comment line that says ‘Problem 1’ before the code that answers the problem. Comments in Python are added by adding the # sign. Anything after a # sign on the same line is ignored when the program is run. So, the start of your program should look something like:

# Problem 1
print(2-10)