Download Assignment #1 - Computing Science

School of Computing Science
Simon Fraser University
CMPT 120 - Introduction to Computing Science and Programming
Term: Fall 2012-3
Instructor: Bill Havens
Assignment #1: Basic Python Programming
DUE DATE: Friday, 2012 September 21 @4pm submitted electronically to the Submission Server. Warning: Try
the server before the deadline to make sure it works for you.
INSTRUCTIONS: Provide solutions to these questions in Python. Make sure you test your code on the given examples plus others to make sure they work properly. Turn in the source files and the transcripts of your tests to the
Submission Server as a ZIP file. Have fun!
1. Factorial Function
Consider the factorial(n) program of figure 3.5 in the Study Guide. Implement this function and test it on both small
and large positive values of ‘n’. Notice how the size of the output grows very quickly as n increases.
2. While loops vs. For loops
Figure 3.5 implements the factorial(n) program using a For loop. Rewrite the program to use an equivalent While
loop instead. Test your function.
3. Simple Interest Calculator
Suppose you invest a lot of money in the bank which pays interest every year on your investment. Write a program
which reads the principal amount to be invested, P, and then the interest rate per annum, I. The total value of your
investment at the end of the year will be P * (1.0 + I) . Ask the user for the principal amount and the annual interest
rate, then print out the value of the investment after one year. Test your program on various principals and interest
rates. Currently a reasonable interest rate is only 3% which is specified as the rate 0.03.
4. Compound Interest Calculator
Suppose you leave your money in the bank for more than one year and you add the interest to the principal each
year. Then the principal P will grow each year as specified by the formula: P = P * (1.0 + I). Write a program as
above that asks for a principal starting amount P and an interest rate I and also a number of years "n" to invest. Use a
FOR loop to find the total value of your investment after "n" years. Print out the principal P after each year and stop
after the "n"th year. Given an interest rate of 6%, how many years does it take to double your money?
5. Runners calorie counter
Runners are very concerned about their caloric expenditure. Actually not the best way to loose weight but nevertheless running does burn calories. Turns out that a runner burns about 100 calories per mile. The further you run, the
more calories you loose. OK, now your job is to write a program that tells a runner how many calories they have
burned given the inputted distance that they ran. Ask the user how many miles they ran and then ouput the equivalent calorie burn. But Canada uses the metric system (like most of the civilized world!). So modify your program so
that it asks the user whether to use miles or kilometres to measure distance.
Show your calorie counter working on various distances specified in both miles and kilometres. Demonstrate that it
works for distance equal to zero.