Python 3a – Data Types

Core Data Types

It’s essential to recognise the common data types you’ll work with in Python:

• String – text like "Hello!", "Toy Story 4", "Boeing 747".
• Integer – whole numbers like 1470, 0, -34.
• Float – decimal numbers like -32.12, 3.14.
• Boolean – True or False.
• Character – in Python this is simply a string of length 1 (e.g. "a", "6", "?").

Casting Between Types

Convert values from one type to another using these functions:

• str(x) → string
• int(x) → integer (truncates decimals)
• float(x) → float

Example: converting a number to text so it can be joined inside a sentence:

total = 45
print("You owe £", total, "in total.")          # comma-join (adds spaces automatically)
print("You owe £" + str(total) + " in total.")  # using str() to concatenate

Division Returns a Float

In Python 3, the division operator / returns a float, even when the result is mathematically a whole number. You can convert it to an integer with int() if needed (this drops the decimal part):

total = 100 / 10
print("The answer is", total)      # 10.0 (float)
print("The answer is", int(total)) # 10   (integer)

Data Types Task 1 – Time

Ask the user for the current hour and minute as integers, then output the time as text using str():

hour = int(input("What is the hour? "))
minute = int(input("What is the minute? "))
print("The time is " + str(hour) + ":" + str(minute))

Data Types Task 2 – Decimal

Read an integer from the user, then show it as a decimal using float():

number = int(input("Enter any number: "))
print(float(number))