Question

Write a function, named timesTen, that accepts an integer argument. When the function is called, it should display the product of its argument multiplied times 10.

Short answer

Question: Write a function called `timesTen` that accepts an integer argument, multiplies it by 10, and then displays the result.

Step-by-step solution

1. Define the function

Begin by defining the function named `timesTen` with one parameter, which will be the integer argument. You can do this in Python using the `def` keyword followed by the function name and the parameter in parentheses, like this: `def timesTen(x):`

2. Perform the calculation

Inside the function body, multiply the given parameter `x` by 10 to obtain the result. Assign this calculated value to a new variable, for example, `result`. In Python, it would look like this: `result = x * 10`

3. Display the result

With the calculation complete, it's time to display the result. Use the `print` function in Python to print the result to the console: `print(result)`

4. Call the function with an example integer

To test the function, call it with an example integer as an argument. For example, call `timesTen(5)`, which should display the value 50. The completed Python code for the `timesTen` function should look like this: ```python def timesTen(x): result = x * 10 print(result) timesTen(5) ```

Key concepts

Function definition in Python

In Python, defining a function provides a block of code that performs a specific task and can be reused throughout a program. It's akin to a recipe with a set of instructions that you follow to achieve a particular result. To create a function, you use the keyword def, followed by the function name and a set of parentheses that can contain parameters. Here's a straightforward template:

def function_name(parameters):
# code block

Just like baking different cakes using similar methods, even when the ingredients (parameters) change, functions allow you to keep the method (code) consistent. This redundancy reduction is key to effective programming as it promotes code reusability and clarity. Remember that the function code block starts with a colon and is indented, as indentation is crucial in Python for defining the scope. When you define your function, it's important to give it a descriptive name to reflect what it does, as we did with 'timesTen' in the original exercise.

Parameter passing to functions

Actions speak louder than words, and in programming, the concept of 'parameter passing' is how you let your functions spring into action. Think of parameters as placeholders within a function; these placeholders are filled with actual values, called arguments, when you call the function. This process is akin to giving your friend a coffee order to place on your behalf; you're passing your order (argument) into the predefined request (parameter).

In the exercise, the parameter x in the timesTen function is a placeholder for any integer value we want to multiply by 10. Calling timesTen(5) means you're passing 5 as the argument to x. In Python, parameters can receive different types of arguments, like numbers, lists, or even other functions. By understanding parameters and how to pass arguments to them, you can leverage the true power of functions—making them versatile tools in your programming toolkit.

Arithmetic operations in Python

Python doesn't just handle snakes; it also manages numbers quite well—even when they start slithering around with arithmetic operations! In Python, arithmetic operations are as easy as pie. The main operations you can perform with numbers include addition +, subtraction -, multiplication *, and division /. They work just as you'd expect in any basic math problem.

Following the operation symbols, there's the modulus % which finds the remainder of a division, exponentiation ** for raising numbers to powers, and floor division // that divides and rounds down the result to the nearest whole number. In the case of our exercise, we used the multiplication operation * to multiply an input value by 10. It’s just one symbol * in Python, but behind the scenes, it’s a crowd of calculations held back by parentheses, waiting to multiply and return a result as efficiently as possible.