how do I type Greek letters in Python?

[AirbornEagle]

I'm a beginner of programming. I should type a math formula but I can't find the way to type Greek letters such as alpha, beta and so on. I've already looked for info on the Internet but I always read stuff about matplotlib and plots that I think I don't need for my simple problem. If I select the font I don't find anything for Greek symbols. Hope someone could help me, thank you!

I'm using Python 2.7.5

[Bachstelze]

What exactly do you mean by "type" here?

[AirbornEagle]

I want to write sin(alpha) - can't find the Greek alpha symbol

[Vaphell]

but do you need to print that out as a part of its output or do you want to be able to type that when the program prompts for user input?

[AirbornEagle]

but do you need to print that out as a part of its output or do you want to be able to type that when the program prompts for user input?

yes, I want to type stg like that:

alpha = input("Enter alpha value: ")
beta = ...
x = sin(alpha) + cos(beta)
print x

[CptPicard]

While it is possible to use Unicode either in Python source or maybe even in the shell, doing so is just asking for encoding-related troubles. Why not just call it "alpha" like everyone else would?

[AirbornEagle]

I know but it's an excercise from a book and I should type it that way

I'll try to get info about Unicode, thank you CptPicard :)

[alan9800]

the following code shows all the greek letters
for greek_code in range(0x3b1,0x3ca):
greek_char = unichr(greek_code).encode('utf-8')
print hex(greek_code), greek_charyou may find more infos about how to use unicode in your python scripts here:
http://docs.python.org/2/howto/unicode.html

[Vaphell]

strings are one thing but apparently python 2.x doesn't allow for non-ascii chars in variable names at all. Python 3.x does but only accepts ones that are letters (eg µ is ok but √ is not)

[SledgeHammer_999]

Go to your keyboard settings and add a new layout. Choose greek. Then choose a key combination that switches between the layouts or click on the relevant tray icon that appears.

[CptPicard]

I know but it's an excercise from a book and I should type it that way


What kind of book? Why? What difference does it make?

[AirbornEagle]

What kind of book? Why? What difference does it make?

the book is "Python programming: an introduction to computer science - John Zelle"

It doesn't really make any difference, it's just matter of learning to type those characters since I came across them :)

[AirbornEagle]

the following code shows all the greek letters
for greek_code in range(0x3b1,0x3ca):
greek_char = unichr(greek_code).encode('utf-8')
print hex(greek_code), greek_charyou may find more infos about how to use unicode in your python scripts here:
http://docs.python.org/2/howto/unicode.html

thanks ;)

[nvteighen]

This works flawlessly for me.



# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-

alpha = raw_input("Type α:")
if alpha == "α":
print "ἄριστα."
else:
print "τοῦτο οὐ ἐστὶ τὸ ἄλφα."


Translating the print statements is left as an exercise to the reader.

[alan9800]

This works flawlessly for me.



# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-

alpha = raw_input("Type α:")
if alpha == "α":
print "ἄριστα."
else:
print "τοῦτο οὐ ἐστὶ τὸ ἄλφα."


Translating the print statements is left as an exercise to the reader.Perhaps I've forgot something of what I studied at the high school, but shouldn't the first string be "ἄριστον" instead of "ἄριστα"?

[nvteighen]

Perhaps I've forgot something of what I studied at the high school, but shouldn't the first string be "ἄριστον" instead of "ἄριστα"?

It's a synonym :)