Question

Assume the variable big references a string. Write a statement that converts the string it references to lowercase and assigns the converted string to the variable little.

Short answer

Answer: In Python, you can use the `str.lower()` function to convert a string to lowercase. To assign the result to another variable, follow this statement: ```python little = big.lower() ``` Here, 'big' is the original string that needs to be converted, and 'little' is the new variable containing the lowercase version of the original string.

Step-by-step solution

Identifying the method for string conversion

The method to convert a string to lowercase in Python is `str.lower()` function. It takes a string as input and returns a new string with all characters converted to lowercase. No arguments are required for this function.

Write the statement for string conversion and variable assignment

Given the variable big that contains a string to be converted, we need to convert it to lowercase using the str.lower() function and assign the result to another variable little. Here's the statement that does this: ```python little = big.lower() ```

Key concepts

Python Variables

In the world of Python, variables play an essential role. They act as containers that store data values. Defining a variable is straightforward and involves choosing a name that will hold the data. Names should be meaningful so that anyone reading the code can understand their purpose. Remember that Python is case-sensitive, which means `Variable` and `variable` would be considered two distinct variables.
A variable is assigned a value using the `=` operator. For example, `big = "Hello World"` is assigning a string to the variable `big`. Python variables can hold data of different types, such as strings, integers, and lists.
When creating variables, keep in mind:

• Variable names should start with a letter or underscore (_), but not a number.
• Choose names that are descriptive and easy to remember.
• Use lowercase letters, as names are often case-sensitive.

By following these guidelines, your code becomes cleaner and more understandable, especially when sharing with others or revisiting it at a later time.

String Methods

Python is equipped with a variety of string methods that help in manipulating and handling text data efficiently. These methods are functions built into Python that help process strings without needing to write additional code.
One essential aspect to remember is that all string methods return new strings, leaving the original string unchanged. This behavior helps avoid accidental changes to the original data.
Some commonly used string methods include:

• `lower()`: Converts all characters in a string to lowercase.
• `upper()`: Converts all characters to uppercase.
• `strip()`: Removes any leading or trailing whitespace.
• `replace()`: Replaces occurrences of a specified word or character with another.

Using string methods is efficient because they are optimized for performance and ensure that tasks involving text manipulation are handled cleanly and effectively.

Lowercase Conversion

In Python, converting strings to lowercase is a common operation, especially when comparing strings in a case-insensitive manner or preparing data for analysis where case consistency is required.
The `.lower()` method is specifically designed for this purpose. When you use `big.lower()`, it generates a new string where all the alphabetic characters in `big` are lowercased. The original string remains unaffected, which is often desirable to maintain the integrity of your source data.
To convert a string to lowercase and save it to another variable, execute the following steps in Python:

• Using the `.lower()` method on the string variable.
• Assigning the result to a different variable.

For instance, if you have the code `little = big.lower()`,

• `big` holds the original string.
• `little` receives the lowercase version.

This approach helps in scenarios where maintaining the original dataset is crucial, while still needing to work with a modified version for specific requirements.