ECS 10: Basic Concepts of Computing Spring 2007
Assignment 1: Using Python
Due (online drop-off): Friday, April 6, 2007 (10pm)
Overview. In this assignment you will write your first Python program. Your program should
take as input a temperature in degree Fahrenheit (◦F) and then output the equivalent temperature
in degree Celsius (◦C) and in degree Kelvin (◦K). In order to compute the desired output, given
only the input, you need to know the algorithm. In this case, we just need two simple formulas for
converting from degrees Fahrenheit degrees into the other temperature units. Here is the formula
for converting from Fdegrees Fahrenheit into Cdegrees Celsius:
C= (F−32) ∗5
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Note that Python makes a difference between, e.g., 5and 5.0 (see the lecture notes from class).
Thus you might have to “tweak” this formula a bit to get the intended result in Python.
From the degrees Celsius Cit is easy to compute the degrees Kelvin Kas follows:
K=C+ 273.15
For example, the freezing point of water is 32 ◦F, or equivalently 0◦C or 273.15 ◦K. On a really
hot summer day in Davis, the temperature might be 104 ◦F, or equivalently 40 ◦C (or 313.15 ◦K).
Here is an example output that your program might produce:
Please enter a temperature in degrees Fahrenheit? 104
104 degrees Fahrenheit are ...
40.0 degrees Celsius and 313.15 degrees Kelvin.
>>>
What is written in boldface (here: 104) is what the user has entered. Everything else is output by
the computer. The symbol >>> indicates that the Python is ready to accept new commands.
Where to do the assignment. You can do this assignment either in the computer classrooms1or
on your own computer, if you have one. To do the assignment on your own computer, you will
need to install Python. We strongly recommend you install Python, and we strongly recommend
that you do it ASAP. If you have a laptop, you could bring it to lab hours and we would be happy
to help you install Python.2
Either way, we suggest you begin by making a new folder on your Desktop, called ECS-10,
where you can keep your work. To do this, put the mouse on an empty spot on the Desktop and
right click, select New and then Folder. When the folder appears, its name should be highlighted;
type ECS-10 to rename it.3
1See http://daks.ucdavis.edu/˜ludaesch/ECS-10-S07/labs.html
2See http://daks.ucdavis.edu/˜ludaesch/ECS-10-S07/software.html
3These instructions are for Windows. For Mac or Linux systems, apply the corresponding steps.
