Question

Write a method quality Points that inputs a student’s average and returns 4 if the student's average is 90–100, 3 if the average is 80–89, 2 if the average is 70–79, 1 if the average is 60–69 and 0 if the average is lower than 60. Incorporate the method into an application that reads a value from the user and displays the result.

Short answer

Define a function that uses conditional statements to evaluate and return quality points based on the average score.

Step-by-step solution

Define the Method

Start by defining a method named `qualityPoints`. This method will take one parameter `average` which represents the student's average score.

Implement Logic for Quality Points

Inside the method, use conditional statements (if-elif-else) to categorize the average score into quality points: - If the average is between 90 and 100, return 4. - If the average is between 80 and 89, return 3. - If the average is between 70 and 79, return 2. - If the average is between 60 and 69, return 1. - If the average is below 60, return 0.

Create the Main Function

Create a main function to handle the interaction with the user. This function will prompt the user to input the student's average score and will store the user's response.

Call qualityPoints Method

Use the `qualityPoints` method, passing the user's input (converted to an appropriate numerical type) as an argument. Capture the return value, which represents the quality points for the given average.

Display the Result

Print the result (quality points) to the user in a readable format. This concludes the functionality of the application.

Testing the Application

Test the application with various inputs to ensure that the `qualityPoints` method correctly categorizes the average and returns the appropriate point value.

Key concepts

Method Definition

When creating a method in programming, you're essentially defining a specific task your program can perform. In this case, the method is named `qualityPoints`. It is designed to make decisions based on a student's average score. Naming your method is the first step. The name should clearly describe what the method does.

This method takes a single parameter, `average`, which represents the student's average score. A parameter is like a special kind of variable that is used to pass information into methods. By defining parameters, you let the method know what to expect as input.

• Start by declaring the method with a name like `qualityPoints`.
• Specify the parameter in the parentheses. For example, `qualityPoints(average)`.
• Describe the task the method should accomplish within its body. Here, it will return a number representing quality points based on the input average.

Proper method definition and naming make your code more understandable and easier to use.

Conditional Statements

Conditional statements allow a program to make decisions. They execute different segments of code based on specific conditions. In the `qualityPoints` method, conditional statements are used to determine the quality points based on the student’s score.

The common format for a conditional statement in Python is the `if-elif-else` construct. This allows your program to check multiple criteria and execute code accordingly.

• Start with an `if` statement, checking the highest condition: `if average >= 90`.
• Use `elif` for additional conditions: `elif average >= 80` to `elif average >= 60`.
• Finally, use `else` to define the action if none of the previous conditions are met.

This structure ensures only one code block is executed based on the first true condition.

User Input Handling

Handling user input is a crucial part of interactive applications. It allows the program to take user-provided data and perform operations using this information.

In our exercise, user input handling is done in the main function, where we ask for the student's average score. In Python, the `input()` function captures user input in the form of a string.

• Use the `input()` function to prompt and read data: `average_string = input('Enter student average: ')`.
• Convert the input string to a number, since calculations are not possible with strings: `average = int(average_string)`.

By managing user input correctly, the program can process and use the data effectively, enhancing user interaction.

Return Values

The concept of return values is fundamental in programming. A function or method can perform a task and send back a result. This is known as a return value.

In the `qualityPoints` method, the return value is an integer representing the quality points based on the student’s average. This is achieved using the `return` statement. The `return` statement exits the method and sends back the specified value to where the method was called.

• Within the method, use `return` followed by the value to be returned, like `return 4` when the average is between 90 and 100.
• The result from the `qualityPoints` method can then be captured in a variable when the method is called, allowing it to be used in the program's logic or output: `points = qualityPoints(average)`.

Return values are important because they allow methods to provide feedback on the operations they perform, enabling further computations.