Data Types, Control Flow & Functions

This unit expands foundational Python skills by teaching numeric, textual, and temporal data handling; control structures (operators, conditionals, and loops); core collection types; and the fundamentals of writing and documenting functions. It builds on introductory syntax from Unit 1 and prepares students to apply modular code and data structures in higher-level projects in later units.

Learning Objectives

• Apply Python numeric operations, math-related modules (math, decimal, fractions), and number-formatting techniques to compute results that meet specified precision and presentation requirements, including correct handling of special numeric values.
• Demonstrate manipulation and formatting of strings and the parsing/formatting of dates and times with Python libraries to transform inputs into required outputs according to given specifications.
• Analyze and construct control flow using operators, if/else branching, for loops, and while loops to implement algorithms that satisfy test cases and avoid common errors (e.g., infinite loops, incorrect branch logic).
• Evaluate and apply Python collections (lists, tuples, sets) and create well-documented functions (parameters, returns, comments/docstrings) to modularize code and pass information between program components.