Question

Rewrite the following statements using augmented assignment operators: a) quantity = quantity + 1 b) days_left = days_left - 5 c) price \(=\) price *\(10\) d) price = price / 2

Short answer

Question: Rewrite the following statements using augmented assignment operators: a) quantity = quantity + 1 b) days_left = days_left - 5 c) price = price * 10 d) price = price / 2 Answer: a) quantity += 1 b) days_left -= 5 c) price *= 10 d) price /= 2

Step-by-step solution

a) Using the += Augmented Assignment Operator for Addition

To use the += operator, write the variable name, followed by the += operator, and the value you want to add. In this case, rewrite the statement as: quantity += 1

b) Using the -= Augmented Assignment Operator for Subtraction

To use the -= operator, write the variable name, followed by the -= operator, and the value you want to subtract. In this case, rewrite the statement as: days_left -= 5

c) Using the *= Augmented Assignment Operator for Multiplication

To use the *= operator, write the variable name, followed by the *= operator, and the value you want to multiply by. In this case, rewrite the statement as: price *= 10

d) Using the /= Augmented Assignment Operator for Division

To use the /= operator, write the variable name, followed by the /= operator, and the value you want to divide by. In this case, rewrite the statement as: price /= 2

Key concepts

Augmented Assignment Operators

Augmented assignment operators are a shorthand way of updating the value of a variable by performing an operation on it and assigning the result back to the variable. These operators help make code cleaner and more concise.

Here's how each of these augmented operators works in Python:

• +=: Adds the right operand to the left operand and assigns the result to the left operand. For example, x += 1 is equivalent to x = x + 1.
• -=: Subtracts the right operand from the left operand and assigns the result to the left operand. For example, x -= 2 is equal to x = x - 2.
• *=: Multiplies the left operand by the right operand and assigns the result to the left operand. For example, x *= 5 means x = x * 5.
• /=: Divides the left operand by the right operand and assigns the result to the left operand. For example, x /= 4 stands for x = x / 4.

By using augmented assignment operators, you not only write less code but also improve code readability.

Variables in Python

Variables in Python serve as containers to store data that can be used and manipulated throughout a program. They hold information you can refer to again, making them fundamental in programming.

To create a variable, you just need to pick a name and use the assignment operator = to set it equal to the value you'd like it to have. For example:

• age = 25: This creates a variable named age with a value of 25.
• name = 'Alice': This creates a variable named name containing the string 'Alice'.

Variables in Python are flexible—types don’t need to be declared beforehand. You can easily change the content type of a variable by assigning it a new value of a different type.

• age = "twenty-five": Now, age is updated to store a string instead of an integer.

Variables play a crucial role when working with assignment operators, as they are the elements on which these operations are performed.

Basic Arithmetic Operations

Arithmetic operations are fundamental to many programming tasks. In Python, there are several key arithmetic operations you can use:

• Addition (+): This operator adds two numbers together. For example, 3 + 2 gives 5.
• Subtraction (-): This subtracts the right number from the left number. For example, 5 - 2 results in 3.
• Multiplication (*): This multiplies two numbers. For instance, 4 * 3 equals 12.
• Division (/): This divides one number by another. For example, 8 / 2 results in 4. Note that this operation always returns a floating-point number.

Understanding these basic operations is essential for performing calculations and manipulating data in programming. They form the basis of more complex mathematical computations that you'll encounter in coding challenges and applications. Knowing how each operation works allows you to apply them efficiently in functions and algorithms.