CS: Introduction to Variables and Data Types Worksheet

Question 1

In your own words, explain what a variable is in computer programming.

Accepted Answer

A variable is a named place to store a value in a program. The value can be used later and may change while the program runs.

Question 2

A program has the statement score = 25. What is the variable name, and what value is stored in it?

Accepted Answer

The variable name is score, and the value stored in it is 25.

Question 3

Choose the best data type for this value: 42. Explain your choice.

Accepted Answer

The best data type is an integer because 42 is a whole number with no decimal part.

Question 4

Choose the best data type for this value: 3.75. Explain your choice.

Accepted Answer

The best data type is a float because 3.75 is a number with a decimal part.

Question 5

Choose the best data type for this value: "basketball". Explain your choice.

Accepted Answer

The best data type is a string because "basketball" is text made of letters.

Question 6

Choose the best data type for this value: true. Explain your choice.

Accepted Answer

The best data type is a Boolean because true is one of two possible logical values, true or false.

Question 7

A student writes age = "12". Is age stored as a number or as text? Explain how you know.

Accepted Answer

The value is stored as text because 12 is inside quotation marks. Values in quotation marks are strings.

Question 8

A program has these statements: points = 10 and points = points + 5. What value does points store after both statements run?

Accepted Answer

After both statements run, points stores 15 because the program starts with 10 and then adds 5.

Question 9

Write a variable assignment for a player's name, using the variable name playerName and the value Maya.

Accepted Answer

A correct assignment is playerName = "Maya" because the player's name is text and should be stored as a string.

Question 10

Write a variable assignment for the number of lives in a game, using the variable name lives and the value 3.

Accepted Answer

A correct assignment is lives = 3 because the number of lives is a whole number.

Question 11

The variable temperatures stores [68, 70, 72, 69]. What data type is this most likely, and why?

Accepted Answer

The variable temperatures most likely stores a list because it holds multiple values in one variable.

Question 12

A program needs to store whether a user is logged in or not. Choose a good variable name and data type, then explain your answer.

Accepted Answer

A good choice is isLoggedIn as a Boolean because the value can be true if the user is logged in or false if the user is not logged in.

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