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Chapter 18: Problem 2

What is the output of this code, and why? \(\gg \gg\) def func \((a, b, c=5)\) : \(\operatorname{print}(a, b, c)\) \(\gg>\operatorname{func}(1, c=3, b=2)\)

Short Answer

Expert verified
The output is `1 2 3` because `a=1`, `b=2`, and `c=3`.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Default Parameters

The function `func` is defined with three parameters: `a`, `b`, and `c`, where `c` has a default value of 5. This means that if no argument is provided for `c`, it will automatically take the value 5.
02

Calling the Function

The function `func` is called with the arguments `1`, `c=3`, and `b=2`. This means `a` is assigned the value `1`, `b` is assigned `2`, and `c` is assigned `3`.
03

Print the Values

The `print` statement inside the function will output the values of `a`, `b`, and `c` which are now `1`, `2`, and `3`, respectively.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Function Arguments
Function arguments in Python define the input that a function can accept. When you call a function, you pass these arguments to it.
In the exercise, the function `func(a, b, c=5)` has three arguments: `a`, `b`, and `c`. Here’s what you need to know:
  • `a` and `b` are positional arguments, meaning they are assigned based on their position in the function call.
  • `c` is an argument with a default value, meaning it takes the value `5` unless specified otherwise.
Understanding how to pass arguments to a function is crucial for proper function usage.
When calling `func(1, c=3, b=2)`, the order of arguments matters. `a` takes the value `1`, `b` is explicitly set to `2`, and `c` is explicitly set to `3`.
Parameter Assignment
Parameter assignment determines how values are assigned to the parameters within the function. Here’s a closer look:
  • If you pass parameters positionally like `func(1, 2)`, the values are assigned in the order they're passed.
  • Default values come into play when no argument is provided for that parameter. For example, in `func(a, b, c=5)`, `c` is set to `5` if not otherwise specified.
  • You can also use keyword arguments to specify which value goes to which parameter, regardless of their position. In the function call `func(1, c=3, b=2)`, `a` is `1` because it's the first position, but `b` and `c` are assigned based on their keyword: `b=2` and `c=3`.
This flexibility is powerful and helps ensure that your functions are both durable and readable.
Print Function
The `print` function in Python outputs text to the console. It’s a very useful tool for debugging and displaying results. In the exercise function, there's a `print` statement:
`print(a, b, c)`.
Here's what you need to know:
  • The `print` function takes any number of arguments, separated by commas, and prints them out, separated by spaces.
  • In `print(a, b, c)`, the function will output the values of `a`, `b`, and `c` as they are at the moment of the function call.
In the exercise, calling `print(1, 2, 3)` inside the function outputs `1 2 3` to the console. This is because `a`, `b`, and `c` were assigned `1`, `2`, and `3`, respectively, right before the `print` statement.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

What does this code print, and why? \(\gg \gg\) def func(a, \({ }^{* *}\) kargs): print(a, kargs) \(\gg\) func \((a=1, c=3, b=2)\)

What gets printed by this, and why? \(\gg>\) def func \((a, b, c=3, d=4)\) : print \((a, b, c, d)\) \(\gg\) func \((1, *(5,6))\)
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