Homework 1
Comp 140
Fall 2008
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Homework Assignment for Comp 140: Webster Problem and Computational Thinking - Prof. Devik, Assignments of Computer Science
A homework assignment for a university course named comp 140, which was given in the fall semester of 2008. The assignment includes several problem variations based on the webster problem, where daniel webster has to decide whether to continue working for the devil based on certain conditions. Students are required to write recipes using mathematics, translate them into python programs, and run the programs to find the answers. Additionally, students are asked to read an essay on computational thinking by j. Wing and contrast their views on computer science before and after the assignment and the lecture.
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- Homework
- Comp
- Fall
The Webster problem
The devil made a proposition to Daniel Webster.
The devil proposed paying Daniel for services in the
following way:"On the first day, I will pay you
$1,000 early in the morning. At the end of the day,
you must pay me a commission of $100. At the end
of the day, we will both determine your next day's
salary and my commission. I will double what you
have earned at the end of the day, but you must
double the amount that you pay me. Will you work
for me for a month?"
Homework problem 1a
Identify the key abstraction choices, then write the
recipe for Variation 1 using mathematics, and translate
it into a Python program after choosing an appropriate
computational mapping.
Run the Python program interactively, and report the
answer.
Try the second decision rule (quitting based on net
take) and see if the answer is different.
Use websterone.py and webstertwo.py available from
Owlspace and the Sharepoint site.
Variation
(^) Suppose Webster wants out of the deal before his salary on a day is less than zero. (^) Calculate the starting salary that Webster should negotiate so he can work for the devil according to the devil’s terms in the original problem (the full 30 days). (^) Identify the abstraction choices, then write the recipe in mathematics, and finally in Python. (^) Run your Python program and report the answer. (^) Replace “salary on specific day” by “net take up that day” in the decision rule above, and see if your answer is different.
A useful construct
A function that takes a start salary as
input and computes Webster’s salary
on the 30
th
day
s websterTake
Salary on the 30 th day
Functions in Python
def double(x):
return 2*x
double(2)
double(double(2))
double(‘hello’)
Starter hint for Problem 1b
Armed with function, websterTake,
how can you find the start salary s for
which Webster’s salary on the 3 1
st
day
is exactly zero?
Problem 2
Read the essay on Computational
Thinking by J. Wing.