Chapter 1. Python Basics
In this chapter, we will discuss basic concepts and several widely used functions related to Python. This chapter plus the next one (Chapter 2, Introduction to Python Modules) are only the chapters exclusively based on Python techniques. Those two chapters serve as a review for readers who have some basic Python knowledge. There is no way that a beginner, with no prior Python knowledge, could master Python by reading just those two chapters. For a new learner who wants to learn Python in more detail, he/she could find many good books. From Chapter 3, Time Value of Money onward, we will use Python, which will help in explaining or demonstrating various finance concepts, running regression, and processing data related to economics, finance, and accounting. Because of this, we will offer more Python-related techniques and usages in each of the upcoming chapters.
In particular, in this chapter, we will discuss the following topics:
- Python installation
- Variable assignment, empty space, and writing our own programs
- Writing a Python function
- Data input
- Data manipulation
- Data output
