Week 2 — Readings & Resources

Introduction to Computer Science Free sample edition

Your primary reading is Chapter 2 (in this module). Everything below is the optional, go-deeper layer — pick what helps, skip the rest.

How to use this page

This page has 11 items (5 readings and 6 videos). Allow 58–74 minutes for everything. Each group points back to the matching chapter section and class-session segment, so use the full menu when you want more, or take the quick path below.

Every video here has captions: turn them on with the CC button in the player. The chapter covers the same ideas in text.

Pick-one quick path (18–22 min total)

① Giving a value a name

Chapter 2, Section “Name a value: variables and assignment” · Session 1, Segment 1, “Variables and assignment” · Remember: = means gets, and a reassignment changes only the name on its left.

Python - Variables - W3Schools.com — w3schools.com — a two-minute look at creating a variable by assigning a value to a name; as you watch, read each = aloud as gets, the way the chapter does. Use it while working through the Week-2 module overview. (video, 2 min) (captions: creator)
Facts and myths about Python names and values — Ned Batchelder — a plain-language essay by a longtime Python developer on how a name refers to a value and what assignment really does; read the opening sections on names and assignment, and treat the later parts about lists as something that comes later in the course. (reading, 10–15 min)

② Sorting values into types

Chapter 2, Section “Sort values by type: int, float, str, and bool” · Session 1, Segment 2, “Four core types” · Remember: the quotation marks decide whether 255 is a number or a piece of text.

Numeric Data Types, Python for Beginners 13 of 44 — Microsoft Developer — a short talk on doing math with numbers, why adding a number to text fails, and converting with str(), int(), and float(); listen for the difference between a whole number and a number with decimal places, and treat the part about input() as a preview of next week. (video, 6 min) (captions: creator)
Demo: Numbers, Python for Beginners 14 of 44 — Microsoft Developer — the hands-on follow-up, where the presenter types number operations and runs them; pause before each run, predict the output, and type the same lines into your browser runner to check. (video, 6 min) (captions: creator)

③ Dividing three ways

Chapter 2, Section “Divide three ways: true division, floor division, and remainder” · Session 2, Segment 4, “Three ways to divide” · Remember: / gives the exact answer, // gives full groups, and % gives the leftover.

Python Math Operators - Visually Explained — Visually Explained — a short notebook demo of the arithmetic operators, including the two division operators, the remainder, and powers. This builds on Week 1's work with operator precedence: the video shows each operator on its own, so afterward put two of them in one line, predict the result, and run it. (video, 3 min) (captions: creator)
Numbers, Python concept guide — Exercism — a compact guide from a free coding-practice site covering int and float, the division operators, the remainder, powers, conversions, and round; read the arithmetic, conversion, and round parts, and skip the note on other number bases. (reading, 6–10 min)

④ Converting types and the float surprises

Chapter 2, Section “Convert between types on purpose” · Session 2, Segment 5, “Type conversion” · Remember: Python never guesses a type, so convert on purpose before you mix text and numbers.

Python Intro Ep 03 - String to Int and Other Type Conversions — Russell Lewis — a short lesson on the difference between a whole number and the text that spells it, and how to convert between them; if it reaches reading a value the user types, stop there, because next week, Input, Output & Strings, takes that up. (video, 6 min) (captions: creator)
Python Casting — W3Schools — a one-screen reference for int(), float(), and str() with small examples; predict each example's output, then try it in the page's try-it box. (reading, 4–6 min)
0.1 + 0.2 is NOT 0.3 in Most Programming Languages — mCoding — an explainer on why a sum of decimals can land a tiny distance from the number you expect; watch the first two minutes on how a float is stored in binary and why the sum picks up a rounding error, and treat the later parts on infinities, special values, and the decimal library as optional. (video, 6 min) (captions: creator)
Basic Answers — The Floating-Point Guide — a one-page question-and-answer explainer on why 0.1 + 0.2 does not come out as 0.3 and what programmers do about it; read the first three questions, which match the chapter's float section. (reading, 4–6 min)

Optional one-stop reference (free online reference)

Numbers, The Python Tutorial section 3.1.1 — Python Software Foundation — the official tutorial's section on numbers, the course's free reference for every language fact, covering the division operators, the remainder, powers, and variables; read section 3.1.1 and stop before the section on text. (reading, 5–8 min)

Heads-up (links rot): these point to outside sites that occasionally move or rename pages. If a link ever fails, tell your instructor and use the reference above in the meantime.

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