NumPy is a Python library written in C to provide fast numerical methods for scientific computation.
NumPy enables Python users to use a data structure called an array. Think of an array as a list with super powers; they are much more efficient than lists. Arrays look just like a list without commas: [3 5 7 11]
Today we will learn about 1-D (one dimensional) arrays. However, Python arrays can contain any number of dimensions.
In-Class Activity
One way to gain insight into numeric data is to calculate its mean and standard deviation. More information here.
Sometimes it is useful to sort numeric data into either ascending or descending order. Why?
Download demo.py and conduct experiments until you fully understand it.
Can you explain how the sort function works?
The sort function does not return anything. Why does the shoulder_heights array in the main program change?
Can you modify the sort function so that it sorts the data into descending order?
The NumPy module includes a sort function. Can you find the relevant documentation and then use it?
What are other useful things you might want to do with a 1-D array?