Question

Define three classes: Bear, Rabbit, and 0ctothorpe. For each, define only one method: eats(). This should return 'berries' (Bear), 'clover' (Rabbit), or 'campers' (0ctothorpe). Create one object from each and print what it eats.

Short answer

Define classes Bear, Rabbit, and Octothorpe with an `eats()` method returning specific food items. Create objects and print eating results.

Step-by-step solution

Define the Bear class

First, we define the Bear class. Inside the class, we create a method called `eats()` which returns the string 'berries'. This method indicates what a Bear eats.

Define the Rabbit class

Next, we define the Rabbit class. Similar to the Bear class, we include an `eats()` method that returns the string 'clover'. This will represent the food item that a Rabbit eats.

Define the Octothorpe class

Then, define the Octothorpe class. This class also contains an `eats()` method, which returns 'campers', indicating what an Octothorpe eats.

Create an object from each class

Now, instantiate objects for each class: Bear, Rabbit, and Octothorpe. Creating these objects will allow us to call the `eats()` methods for each class.

Print what each object eats

Finally, we call the `eats()` method on each object and print the results. This will display 'berries' for the Bear, 'clover' for the Rabbit, and 'campers' for the Octothorpe.

Key concepts

Python Classes

Classes are a fundamental concept in Python's object-oriented programming. Think of a class as a blueprint for creating objects. These objects, or instances, are the tangible entities that your program will operate on. A class defines a set of attributes and methods that are common to all objects of that type.
For example, the original exercise uses three classes: `Bear`, `Rabbit`, and `Octothorpe`. Each of these classes represents a different entity with a unique behavior.
In Python, creating a class involves using the `class` keyword followed by the class name and a colon. Inside this block, you'll define methods and attributes. Here’s a simple syntax example:

• class ClassName:
• def method_name(self):
• # method body

Method Definition

In the context of classes, methods define the behaviors of an object. In simple terms, a method is just a function that lives inside a class.
The distinguishing feature is that the first parameter of any method is `self`, which represents the instance of the class. This parameter allows access to attributes and other methods within the class.
For example, in the provided solution, each class contains an `eats()` method that specifies what each animal eats:

• def eats(self):
• return 'berries' # for Bear class

The `eats()` method is defined within its respective class and returns a specific string value that indicates the food preference of the animal.
It’s crucial to include `(self)` in the method definition since it helps in modifying object attributes or calling different methods within the same object.

Instantiating Objects

Instantiating an object is akin to creating a new instance of a class. This is done by calling the class itself as though it were a function, and this process yields a concrete object with all the defined attributes and methods of that class.
In the original exercise, three objects are instantiated: one each for `Bear`, `Rabbit`, and `Octothorpe`.
To instantiate an object, you simply assign the class to a variable, like `my_bear = Bear()`. This creates an instance of the `Bear` class, which can then be used to call its `eats()` method, among others:

• my_bear = Bear()
• print(my_bear.eats()) # Outputs: 'berries'

Instantiating objects is vital because it allows you to create multiple individuals from the same class blueprint, each capable of performing methods and holding state independently from others.