Students will learn more about the types of data within Python code.

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Examine the example code and answer the questions below. Make sure to comment (#) while typing your answers

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Be able to read, comprehend, trace, adapt and create Python code using selection that:

• Uses different data types
• Uses casting

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A data type is a setting for a variable that tells it what sort of data to accept. The three data types we will use in these exercises are:

• String – Text. All data in string variables are treated as text
• Integer (Int) – Whole Numbers
• Float – Decimal Numbers

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Casting is the act of converting variables to different data types. This can be done with separate functions:

• int(variable) converts the variable within into a whole number, if it is a number
• float(variable) converts the variable within into a decimal number, if it is a number
• str(variable) converts the variable within into a text-based string

Casting is also used during input. Normally, all inputs from the user are strings, but it can be casted into a different data type and stored into a variable: Example

num1 = int(input(“Enter a number -> “))

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Certain operators are used to compare data types, they are:

• Equal to ==
• Not equal to !=
• Greater than x>y
• Less than x<y
• Mathematical operations (+ – * /)

Note that string data types cannot be used with mathematical operations

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The type function returns the data type of a variable or piece of data. Examples include:

• type(6) returns integer
• type(5.6) returns float
• type(“Hello World!”) returns string

The data type can be printed as well.

print(type(6))

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When you encounter errors you can code, make sure to check if:

• str() casts to string
• int() cast to whole numbers
• float() cast to decimal numbers
• The variable is inside the bracket after the casting’
• The cast data has been assigned to a variable