Functions

In this section, we define four functions that perform basic arithmetic operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

• add: Adds two numbers.

• subtract: Subtracts the second number from the first.

• multiply: Multiplies two numbers.

• divide: Divides the first number by the second, but checks if the second number is zero to avoid division by zero errors.

Programming Concept: Functions: Functions are used to organize the code and make it reusable. Each function performs a specific task, such as arithmetic operations, which can be called multiple times with different inputs. This helps in writing cleaner, more modular code.

Programming Concept: Error Handling: In the divide function, there’s a check for division by zero, which ensures the program doesn't crash when an invalid operation is attempted.

This line of code prompts the user to enter their calculation, which is stored in the variable user_input.

Programming Concept: Input/Output: The input() function is used to take input from the user. It’s a key concept for interactive programs, allowing users to interact with the program by entering data.

• Main Loop: The while loop continuously asks for input until the user types "end".

• Input Validation: The program checks whether the input follows the correct format by splitting the input string into three parts and validating that the operator is one of the four supported.

• Conversion & Calculation: The two numbers are converted to floats, and the corresponding arithmetic function is called based on the operator.

Programming Concept: Loop: The while loop ensures the program continuously runs and waits for input until the user decides to stop by typing "end".

Programming Concept: Conditionals: The if-else statements allow the program to check the validity of the input (both format and operator). This is an example of using conditionals to control program flow.

Programming Concept: String Manipulation: The split() method is used to divide the user input into separate components (numbers and operator), which is necessary to process the input properly.

Programming Concept: Type Conversion: The float() function is used to convert the string input into numeric types (floating-point numbers), enabling arithmetic calculations.

If the user enters input that doesn’t match the expected format (not three parts or an invalid operator), this section prints an error message indicating the correct format to use.

Programming Concept: Error Handling: The else statement catches invalid input and provides feedback to the user. This improves the user experience by guiding them to input the correct format.

After processing one calculation, the program prompts the user for another input. If the user types "end", the program will exit the loop and stop running.

Programming Concept: Loop Termination: The while loop continues until the user types "end", which effectively terminates the loop and the program. This demonstrates how to control the flow of a program using termination conditions.

These terms help us understand the structure and function of a program. Mastering these terms is crucial to learning programming as they form the basic concepts and mindset of programming. In the learning blog I share, these terms can be combined to enhance the understanding and interpretation of the code.