Course: Programming Fundamentals

Section

General

Course Leader Details Forum

Ms. Noor Zuhaili bt Md Yasin

Master of Computer Science (Software Engineering), Universiti Putra Malaysia

Field of study: Software Engineering, Programming, Knowledge Management (Ontology)

: zuhaili@nilai.edu.my

S222, Science Block (School of Computing, FEST)

: 017 3464414

Thursday (10-12pm), Friday (8-10am)

Course Guide

Topic 1	Introduction To Problem Solving
	1.1	Problem Identification
	1.2	Basic Introduction to Programming Lifecycle
	Summary



Topic 2	Usage of the Program Development Environment
	2.1	Introduction to Program Environment
	2.2	Stages to Produce Programs
	2.3	Using the Editor


Topic 3	Structured Program Design
	3.1	Program Design Concepts
	3.2	Several Methods for Programming Design
	3.3	Algorithms
	3.4	Applications in Programming Environment
	Summary


Topic 4	Fundamentals of Programming
	4.1	Introduction to Syntax and Semantics
	4.2	Introduction to Basic Input/ Output Statements
	Summary


Topic 5	Basic Data Types and Declarations
	5.1	Integer numbers
	5.2	Real Numbers, fixed and floating point format
	5.3	String and Characters
	Summary


Topic 6	Constants and Variables Declarations
	6.1	Constants Declarations
	6.2	Variables naming and regulations
	6.3	Assignment statement using specific variables
	Summary


Topic 7	Arithmetic Operations
	7.1	Addition, substraction, multiplication, division, modules
	7.2	Operators Precedence
	7.3	Arithmetic Expressions
	Summary


Topic 8	Selection Constructs
	8.1	Relational and Logical Operators
	8.2	IF Statement
	8.3	Multiple IF Statements
	8.4	Other Constructs- elif
	Summary


Topic 9	Iteration Constructs
	9.1	For Loop
	9.2	While Loop
	Summary
	Key Terms
			50

Topic 10	Functions
	10.1	Built in Functions
	10.2	Programmer Defined Functions
	10.3	Parameter Passing
	Summary


Topic 11	Array
	11.1	Declarations of Arrays
	11.2	Access elements of an Array
	11.3	The length of an Array
	11.4	Adding Array element
	11.5	Removing an Array
	11.6	Array Methods
	Summary

You may download the following points to note and cover page thru the link:

1. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VCkzl6n1_u79t3Dvw94ut-F0HMoheBJS/view?usp=share_link
2. https://drive.google.com/file/d/11QHdYjYXW9kui3agRj8ls-DGMp_O6I4-/view?usp=share_link

INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE

Hi!

Welcome to OEC3102 Programming Fundamentals

OEC3102 introduces the fundamental programming concepts and principles. It emphasises on the practical aspects about the programming language and to solve the intended problems using the specified technique.

It covers the fundamental concepts of program design and the skills of a programming method. The applications of these skills encourage the well-structured and documented program by using Python programming language. This is intended to develop the skill of program design and programming in a chosen programming language. This material provides a basis for program development throughout the fields.

Good luck & enjoy learning.

CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE

This course is assessed by both coursework and examination.

NZMY~

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Instructions: Clicking on the section name will show / hide the section.

This section

TOPIC 1: INTRODUCTION TO PROBLEM SOLVING

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this topics, you will be able to:

1. Explain the essence of computational problem solving

2. Explain what a computer algorithm is

3. Describe about program development life cycle

1.0 ALGORITHMIC PROBLEM SOLVING

Algorithms, building blocks of algorithms (statements, state, control flow, functions), notation (pseudo code, flow chart, programming language), algorithmic problem solving, simple strategies for developing algorithms (iteration, recursion). Illustrative problems: find minimum in a list, insert a card in a list of sorted cards, guess an integer number in a range, Towers of Hanoi.

1.1 Algorithms

What is algorithm?

An algorithm is a collection of well-defined, unambiguous and effectively computable instructions ,if execute it will return the proper output.

well-defined- The instructions given in an algorithm should be simple and defined well.

Unambiguous- The instructions should be clear,there should not be ambiguity .

Effectively computable- The instructions should be written step by step ,which helps computer to understand the control flow .

We often use algorithm in our day-to-day life,but when and how?

Our cooking receipe

Our daily routine as a student

When we buy something

When we go outing

Our class routine

How it helps?

How an algorithm should be?

It should be in simple English,what a programmer wants to say. It has a start,a middle and an end. Probably an algorithm should have,

Start

1. In the middle it should have set of tasks that computer wants to do and it should be in simple English and clear.

2. To avoid ambiguous should give no for each step.

Stop

1.2 PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE

When we want to develop a program using any programming language, we follow a sequence of steps. These steps are called phases in program development. The program development life cycle is a set of steps or phases that are used to develop a program in any programming language.

Generally, the program development life cycle contains 6 phases, they are as follows:

Problem Definition
Problem Analysis
Algorithm Development
Coding & Documentation
Testing & Debugging
Maintenance

Summary

In this topic, you have learnt that on how to solving a problem.

When solving a computational problem, either suitable existing algorithms may be found or new algorithms must be developed. Example, for the Traveling Salesman problem, there are various (nontrivial) algorithms that can be utilized, as mentioned, for solving problems with tens of thousands of cities. Finally, for the game of chess, since it is infeasible to look ahead at the final outcomes of every possible move, there are algorithms that make a best guess at which moves to make. Algorithms that work well in general but are not guaranteed to give the correct result for each specific problem are called heuristic algorithms.

Program Implementation

Then, you are able to design decisions provide general details of the data representation and the algorithmic approaches for solving a problem. The details, however, do not specify which programming language to use, or how to implement the program. That is a decision for the implementation phase. Since we are programming in Python, the implementation needs to be expressed in a syntactically correct and appropriate way, using the instructions and features available in Python.

Program Testing

As humans, we have abilities that far exceed the capabilities of any machine, such as using common sense reasoning, or reading the expressions of another person. However, one thing that we are not very good at is dealing with detail, which computer programming demands. Therefore, while we are enticed by the existence of increasingly capable computing devices that unfailingly and speedily execute whatever instructions we give them, writing computer programs is difficult and challenging. As a result, programming errors are pervasive, persistent and inevitable. However, the sense of accomplishment of developing software that can be of benefit to hundreds, thousands, or even millions of people can be extremely gratifying. If it were easy to do, the satisfaction would not be as great.

Given this fact, software testing is a crucial part of software development. Testing is done incrementally as a program is being developed, when the program is complete, and when the program needs to be updated.

By refer to this video lecture, you will get better understanding in this topic.

Duration: 1 hour

Topic 1- Video Lecture (1 hour) File
Self-Check 1.1: Test Yourself(Duration 2 hours) Quiz

Restricted Not available unless: The activity Topic 1- Video Lecture (1 hour) is marked complete
Self-Check 1.2: Duration 2 hours

Restricted Not available unless: The activity Self-Check 1.1: Test Yourself(Duration 2 hours) is marked complete
SIM Lecture Note- Topic 1 (Duration: 3 hours) File

Dear All,
Kindly check the note from the SIM for this topic. 😀
Test it! - 2 hours Quiz

1. A good definition of computer science is “the science of programming computers.” (TRUE/FALSE)

2.         Which of the following areas of study are included within the field of computer science?

(a)        Software engineering

(b)        Database management

(c)        Information security

(d)       All of the above

2. In order to computationally solve a problem, two things are needed: a representation of the problem and that solves it.

3. Leaving out detail in a given representation is a form of   .

4. A “brute-force” approach for solving a given problem is to:

(a) Try all possible algorithms for solving the problem.

(b) Try all possible solutions for solving the problem.

(c) Try various representations of the problem.

(d) All of the above

5. For which of the following problems is a brute-force approach practical to use?

(a) Man, Cabbage, Goat, Wolf problem

(b) Traveling Salesman problem

(c) Chess-playing program

(d) All of the above
Check your knowledge- 2 hours Quiz

1. Which of the following are true of an algorithm?

(a) Has a finite number of steps

(b) Produces a result in a finite amount of time

(c) Solves a general problem

(d) All of the above

2. Algorithms were first developed in the 1930–1940s when the first computing machines appeared. (TRUE/FALSE)

3. Algorithms and computers are a “perfect match” because: (Select all that apply.)

(a) Computers can execute a large number of instructions very quickly.

(b) Computers can execute instructions reliably without error.

(c) Computers can determine which algorithms are the best to use for a given problem

TOPIC 2- USAGE OF THE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT
Restricted Not available unless: The activity (Missing activity) is marked complete

TOPIC 3- STRUCTURED PROGRAM DESIGN

Restricted Not available unless: The activity SELF-CHECK 2.1 (Duration 1 hour) @@PLUG... is marked complete

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this topics, you will be able to:

1. Discuss program design concepts

2. Explain method use for programming design

3. Show an application use in programming

3.1 PROGRAM DESIGN CONCEPT

Now that computational problem solving and computer programming have been discussed, we turn to the Python programming language and associated tools to begin putting this knowledge into practice. Python has a simple syntax. Python programs are clear and easy to read. At the same time, Python provides powerful programming features, and is widely used. Companies and organizations that use Python include YouTube, Google, Yahoo, and NASA. Python is well supported and freely available at www.python.org.

3.2 The IDLE Python Development Environment

IDLE is an integrated development environment (IDE). An IDE is a bundled set of software tools for program development. This typically includes an editor for creating and modifying programs, a translator for executing programs, and a program debugger. A debugger provides a means of taking control of the execution of a program to aid in finding program errors.

Python is most commonly translated by use of an interpreter. Thus, Python provides the very useful ability to execute in interactive mode. The window that provides this interaction is referred to as the Python shell. Interacting with the shell is much like using a calculator, except that, instead of being limited to the operations built into a calculator (addition, subtraction, etc.), it allows the entry and creation of any Python code.

3.3 APPLICATIONS IN PROGRAMMING ENVIRONMENT

The Python Standard Library is a collection of built-in modules, each providing specific functionality beyond what is included in the “core” part of Python. For example, the math module provides additional mathematical functions. The random module provides the ability to generate random numbers, useful in programming, as we shall see. (Other Python modules are described in the Python 3 Programmers’ Reference.). In order to utilize the capabilities of a given module in a specific program, an import statement is used

SUMMARY

Refer to the 0.5 hour video lecture, so we will have 0.5 hour Q and A session through online. Pls listen the video lecture carefully.

TOPIC 4- FUNDAMENTALS OF PROGRAMMING
Restricted Not available unless: The activity Self-Check 3.1: QUIZ (Duration 2hours) is marked complete
LEARNING OUTCOMES

♦          Explain and use the syntax and semantics

♦          Explain the formatting output statement

♦          Explain the basic input and output statement

4.1 INTRODUCTION TO SYNTAX AND SEMANTICS

Execute Python Syntax

Python syntax can be executed by writing directly in the Command Line:

Or by creating a python file on the server, using the .py file extension, and running it in the Command Line:

4.2 INTRODUCTION TO BASIC I/O STATEMENTS

Python Indentation

Indentation refers to the spaces at the beginning of a code line. Where in other programming languages the indentation in code is for readability only, the indentation in Python is very important.

Python uses indentation to indicate a block of code. Example

if 5 > 2:

print("Five is greater than two!")

Output

Python will give you an error if you skip the indentation:

if 5 > 2:

print("Five is greater than two!")

Output

The number of spaces is up to you as a programmer, but it has to be at least one:

if 5 > 2:

print("Five is greater than two!")

if 5 > 2:

        print("Five is greater than two!")

Output

SUMMARY

In this topic you have learnt on how

· Write the program using formatting input and output in Python.

· Program debugging- process of finding and correcting errors (“bugs”) in a computer program.

· Programming errors- inevitable during program development. Syntax errors are caused by invalid syntax (for example, entering prnt instead of print). Since a translator cannot understand instructions containing syntax errors,

·Translator terminate when encountering such errors indicating where in the program the problem occurred.

· Semantic errors (generally called logic errors) are errors in program logic.

***Duration for the video lecture is 1 hours
1 hour for lecture and the remaining is Q and A session
TOPIC 5- BASIC DATA TYPES AND DECLARATIONS
Restricted Not available unless: The activity Self-Check (Duration 4 hours) is marked complete
LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this topic, you will be able to:

♦          Describe and perform variable assignment

♦          Describe real number and floating point format

♦          Describe string and character

5.1 Built-in Data Types

In programming, data type is an important concept. Variables can store data of different types, and different types can do different things. Python has the following data types built-in by default, in these categories.

A data type is a set of values, and a set of operators that may be applied to those values. For example, the integer data type consists of the set of integers, and operators for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, among others. Integers, floats, and strings are part of a set of predefined data types in Python called the built-in types.
Data types prevent the programmer from using values inappropriately. For example, it does not make sense to try to divide a string by two, 'Hello' / 2. The programmer knows this by common sense. Python knows it because 'Hello' belongs to the string data type, which does not include the division operation. The need for data types results from the fact that the same internal representation of data. Example of the data types in Python you can refer to the video lecture

Setting the Data Type

In Python, the data type is set when you assign a value to a variable:

Example                                                             Data Type

x = "Hello World"                                                    str

x = 20                                                                       int

x = 20.5                                                                  float

x = 1j                                                                  complex

x = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]                            list

x = ("apple", "banana", "cherry")                           tuple

x = range(6)                                                            range

x = {"name" : "John", "age" : 36} dict

x = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"} set

x = frozenset({"apple", "banana", "cherry"})    frozenset

x = True bool

x = b"Hello" bytes

x = bytearray(5) bytearray
x = memoryview(bytes(5))                               memoryview

SUMMARY
To identify the basic data types for integer, floating, and string and how to declare a variables.

Duration for the lecture is 1 hour
TOPIC 6- CONSTANTS AND VARIABLES DECLARATION
Restricted Not available unless: The activity Self-Check 5.2: Check Your Knowledge (1 hour) is marked complete
LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this topic, you will be able to:

1. Discuss the constants and variables

2. Show the variable naming, assignment statement and reserved words

6.1 DECLARATION

In Python, variables are names that can be assigned a value and then used to refer to that value throughout your code.

Variables are fundamental to programming for two reasons:

1. Variables keep values accessible: For example, you can assign the result of some time-consuming operation to a variable so that your program doesn’t have to perform the operation each time you need to use the result.

2. Variables give values context: The number 28 could mean lots of different things, such as the number of students in a class, the number of times a user has accessed a website, and so on. Giving the value 28 a name like num_students makes the meaning of the value clear.

In this section, you’ll learn how to use variables in your code, as well as some of the conventions Python programmers follow when choosing names for variables.

Variables can be referring to the containers for storing data values. Python has no command for declaring a variable. A variable is created the moment you first assign a value to it.

6.2 VARIABLE NAMING AND REGULATIONS

A variable can have a short name (like x and y) or a more descriptive name (age, carname, total_volume). Rules for Python variables:

A variable name must start with a letter or the underscore character

A variable name cannot start with a number

A variable name can only contain alpha-numeric characters and underscores (A-z, 0-9, and _ )

Variable names are case-sensitive (age, Age and AGE are three different variables)

Legal variable names:

Example

myvar = "John"

my_var = "John"

_my_var = "John"

myVar = "John"

MYVAR = "John"

myvar2 = "John"

SUMMARY
A constant does not change its value over time. A variable, on the other hand, changes its value dependent on the equation. Constants are usually written in numbers. Variables are specially written in letters or symbols. Constants usually represent the known values in an equation, expression or in line of programming.
Eg:

Video- Demo

According to the demo, it will be 1 hour and 1 hour practical question will be upload for your next task.
TOPIC 7- ARITHMETIC OPERATIONS
Restricted Not available unless: The activity Your Practice (Duration: 1 hour) is marked complete
LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this topics, you will be able to:

1. Discuss the arithmetic operations in python

2. List types of arithmetic operations use

3. Show the example of arithmetic operations in python

7.1 ADDITION, SUBTRACTION, MULTIPLICATION, DIVISION, MODULUS.

Operators are used to perform operations on variables and values. In the example below, we use the + operator to add together two values:

print(10 + 5)

Arithmetic operators are used with numeric values to perform common mathematical operations:

Operator          Name           Example

+ Addition x + y

- Subtraction           x - y

* Multiplication x * y

/ Division x / y

% Modulus x % y

7.2 OPERATOR PRECEDENCE

The way we commonly represent expressions, in which operators appear between their operands, is referred to as infix notation. For example, the expression 4 1 3 is in infix notation since the 1 operator appears between its two operands, 4 and 3. There are other ways of representing expressions called prefix and postfix notation, in which operators are placed before and after their operands, respectively.
The expression 4 1 (3 * 5) is also in infix notation. It contains two operators, 1 and *. The parentheses denote that (3 * 5) is a subexpression. Therefore, 4 and (3 * 5) are the operands of the addition operator, and thus the overall expression evaluates to 19

7.3 ARITHMETIC EXPRESSION

An expression is a combination of symbols that evaluates to a value. Expressions, most commonly, consist of a combination of operators and operands,

4 1 (3 * k)

An expression can also consist of a single literal or variable. Thus, 4, 3, and k are each expressions. This expression has two subexpressions, 4 and (3 * k). Subexpression (3 * k) itself has two subexpressions, 3 and k.

Expressions that evaluate to a numeric type are called arithmetic expressions. A sub expres sion is any expression that is part of a larger expression. Subexpressions may be denoted by the use of parentheses, as shown above. Thus, for the expression 4 1 (3 * 2), the two operands of the addition operator are 4 and (3 * 2), and thus the result it equal to 10. If the expression were instead written as (4 1 3) * 2, then it would evaluate to 14.

Since a subexpression is an expression, any subexpression may contain subexpressions of its own,

4 1 (3 * (2 2 1)) ➝ 4 1 (3 * 1) ➝ 4 1 3 ➝ 7

If no parentheses are used, then an expression is evaluated according to the rules of operator precedence in Python.

SUMMARY
In this topic you have learnt that: to add, multiply, division and modulus. This chapter also introduced you about the example of Operators and arithmetic expression.

Operator precedence- programming language has its own rules for the order that operators are applied.

An expression is a combination of symbols that evaluates to a value. Expressions, most commonly, consist of a combination of operators and operands.

Arithmetic operators are used with numeric values to perform common mathematical operations.


Regarding the video lecture and SIM note, there are following things we will do today:

0.5 hour explanation
0.5 hour QA session
TOPIC 8- SELECTION CONSTRUCTS
Restricted Not available unless: The activity Self-Check 7.1: Discussion (2 hours) is marked complete
LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this topics, you will be able to:

1. Discuss types of selection constructs in the program

2. Apply selection construct into the program

8.1 RELATIONAL AND LOGICAL OPERATORS

Python supports the usual logical conditions from mathematics:

Equals: a == b

Not Equals: a != b

Less than: a < b

Less than or equal to: a <= b

Greater than: a > b

Greater than or equal to: a >= b

These conditions can be used in several ways, most commonly in "if statements" and loops. An "if statement" is written by using the if keyword.

SUMMARY
In this topic you have learnt about selection construct as such if statement, multiple if, nested if and el if.

Control structure- Control flow is the order that instructions are executed in a program. A control statement is that determines the control flow of a set of instructions. There are three fundamental forms of control that programming languages provide—sequential control, selection control, and iterative control.


   if.. else statement

single if statement

Nested if statement

elif statement

Code Demo:

Refer to the above video lecture, you will need 0.5 hour to understand the topic and 0.5 hour to complete brainstorming question.
TOPIC 9- ITERATION CONSTRUCTS
Restricted Not available unless: The activity Self-Check (Duration 4 hours) is marked complete
LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this topics, you will be able to:

1. Discuss types of iteration constructs

2. Apply iteration construct into the program

Iterative Control

An iterative control statement is a control statement providing the repeated execution of a set of instructions. An iterative control structure is a set of instructions and the iterative control statement(s) controlling their execution. Because of their repeated execution, iterative control structures are commonly referred to as “loops.” We look at one specific iterative control statement next, the while statement.

9.1 WHILE LOOP

A while statement is an iterative control statement that repeatedly executes a set of statements based on a provided Boolean expression (condition). All iterative control needed in a program can be achieved by use of the while statement. Figure 9 contains an example of a while loop in Python that sums the first n integers, for a given (positive) value n entered by the user.
As long as the condition of a while statement is true, the statements within the loop are (re)executed. Once the condition becomes false, the iteration terminates and control continues with the first statement after the while loop. Note that it is possible that the first time a loop is reached, the condition may be false, and therefore the loop would never be executed.

9.2 FOR LOOP

A for loop is used for iterating over a sequence (that is a list, a tuple, a dictionary, a set, or a string). This is less like the for keyword in other programming languages, and works more like an iterator method as found in other object-orientated programming languages.

With the for loop we can execute a set of statements, once for each item in a list, tuple, set etc.

SUMMARY
With the while loop we can execute a set of statements as long as a condition is true.
A for loop is used for iterating over a sequence (that is either a list, a tuple, a dictionary, a set, or a string).
This is less like the for keyword in other programming languages, and works more like an iterator method as found in other object-orientated programming languages.
With the for loop we can execute a set of statements, once for each item in a list, tuple, set etc.

While loop

For loop

**Video link lecture will upload soon**
Duration for the video lecture will be 4 hours, 2 hours lecture and the remaining is Q and A session
TOPIC 11- ARRAYS
Restricted Not available unless: The activity Self-Check 9.1: Polish Your Skill is marked complete
LEARNING OUTCOMES

After reading this chapter and completing the exercises, you will be able to:

♦          Explain what an array is in programming

♦          Describe the typical operations performed on array

♦          Effectively create and use array in Python

This chapter shows you how to use LISTS as ARRAYS, however, to work with arrays in Python you will have to import a library, like the NumPy library.

10.1 DECLARATIONS OF ARRAYS

An array is a special variable, which can hold more than one value at a time.

If you have a list of items (a list of car names, for example), storing the cars in single variables could look like this:

car1 = "Ford"

car2 = "Volvo"

car3 = "BMW"

However, what if you want to loop through the cars and find a specific one? And what if you had not 3 cars, but 300?

The solution is an array. An array can hold many values under a single name, and you can access the values by referring to an index number.

10.2 ACCESS THE ELEMENT OF AN ARRAY

You refer to an array element by referring to the index number.

Example

cars = ["Ford", "Volvo", "BMW"]

x = cars[0]

print(x)

Method             Description

append() Adds an element at the end of the list

clear()               Removes all the elements from the list

copy()               Returns a copy of the list

count()             Returns the number of elements with the specified value

extend()           Add the elements of a list (or any iterable), to the end of the current list

index()             Returns the index of the first element with the specified value

insert()             Adds an element at the specified position

pop()                 Removes the element at the specified position

remove() Removes the first item with the specified value

reverse() Reverses the order of the list

sort() Sorts the list

Note: Python does not have built-in support for Arrays, but Python Lists can be used instead.

SUMMARY
An array is a collection of items stored at contiguous memory locations. The idea is to store multiple items of the same type together. This makes it easier to calculate the position of each element by simply adding an offset to a base value, i.e., the memory location of the first element of the array (generally denoted by the name of the array).
Python arrays are used when you need to use many variables which are of the same type. It can also be used to store a collection of data. The arrays are especially useful when you have to process the data dynamically. Python arrays are much faster than list as it uses less memory.
You can write an array by using following syntax:


Remove Arrays Example

Refer to the video lecture, you are required to understand single array and 2D array. Time to allocate is 1 hour. You need to present the outcome through zoom application.
Game Demonstration Corner
Restricted Not available unless: The activity Programming Exercises (Duration 2 hours) is marked complete

In Python, we can create simple games very quickly. In this video, we will discuss the implementation of the Python Hangman Game.The hangman game is a multiplayer game. In this game, one player selects a word. Other players have a certain number of guesses to guess the characters in the word. If the players are able to guess the characters in the entire word within certain attempts, they win. Otherwise, they lose.
REFERENCES
- E-Book- Fundamentals of Python, First Programs
  
  https://books.google.com.my/books/about/Fundamentals_of_Python_First_Programs.html?id=tg9EDwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=kp_read_button&hl=en&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false
  
  https://www.tutorialspoint.com/python/python_tutorial.pdf
Examination
- Exam 1 (Remotely Proctored) Quiz