\[ \begin{align}\begin{aligned}\newcommand\blank{~\underline{\hspace{1.2cm}}~}\\% Bold symbols (vectors) \newcommand\bs[1]{\mathbf{#1}}\\% Differential \newcommand\dd[2][]{\mathrm{d}^{#1}{#2}} % use as \dd, \dd{x}, or \dd[2]{x}\\% Poor man's siunitx \newcommand\unit[1]{\mathrm{#1}} \newcommand\num[1]{#1} \newcommand\qty[2]{#1~\unit{#2}}\\\newcommand\per{/} \newcommand\squared{{}^2} \newcommand\cubed{{}^3} % % Scale \newcommand\milli{\unit{m}} \newcommand\centi{\unit{c}} \newcommand\kilo{\unit{k}} \newcommand\mega{\unit{M}} % % Percent \newcommand\percent{\unit{{\kern-4mu}\%}} % % Angle \newcommand\radian{\unit{rad}} \newcommand\degree{\unit{{\kern-4mu}^\circ}} % % Time \newcommand\second{\unit{s}} \newcommand\s{\second} \newcommand\minute{\unit{min}} \newcommand\hour{\unit{h}} % % Distance \newcommand\meter{\unit{m}} \newcommand\m{\meter} \newcommand\inch{\unit{in}} \newcommand\foot{\unit{ft}} % % Force \newcommand\newton{\unit{N}} \newcommand\kip{\unit{kip}} % kilopound in "freedom" units - edit made by Sri % % Mass \newcommand\gram{\unit{g}} \newcommand\g{\gram} \newcommand\kilogram{\unit{kg}} \newcommand\kg{\kilogram} \newcommand\grain{\unit{grain}} \newcommand\ounce{\unit{oz}} % % Temperature \newcommand\kelvin{\unit{K}} \newcommand\K{\kelvin} \newcommand\celsius{\unit{{}^\circ C}} \newcommand\C{\celsius} \newcommand\fahrenheit{\unit{{}^\circ F}} \newcommand\F{\fahrenheit} % % Area \newcommand\sqft{\unit{sq\,\foot}} % square foot % % Volume \newcommand\liter{\unit{L}} \newcommand\gallon{\unit{gal}} % % Frequency \newcommand\hertz{\unit{Hz}} \newcommand\rpm{\unit{rpm}} % % Voltage \newcommand\volt{\unit{V}} \newcommand\V{\volt} \newcommand\millivolt{\milli\volt} \newcommand\mV{\milli\volt} \newcommand\kilovolt{\kilo\volt} \newcommand\kV{\kilo\volt} % % Current \newcommand\ampere{\unit{A}} \newcommand\A{\ampere} \newcommand\milliampereA{\milli\ampere} \newcommand\mA{\milli\ampere} \newcommand\kiloampereA{\kilo\ampere} \newcommand\kA{\kilo\ampere} % % Resistance \newcommand\ohm{\Omega} \newcommand\milliohm{\milli\ohm} \newcommand\kiloohm{\kilo\ohm} % correct SI spelling \newcommand\kilohm{\kilo\ohm} % "American" spelling used in siunitx \newcommand\megaohm{\mega\ohm} % correct SI spelling \newcommand\megohm{\mega\ohm} % "American" spelling used in siunitx % % Capacitance \newcommand\farad{\unit{F}} \newcommand\F{\farad} \newcommand\microfarad{\micro\farad} \newcommand\muF{\micro\farad} % % Inductance \newcommand\henry{\unit{H}} \newcommand\H{\henry} \newcommand\millihenry{\milli\henry} \newcommand\mH{\milli\henry} % % Power \newcommand\watt{\unit{W}} \newcommand\W{\watt} \newcommand\milliwatt{\milli\watt} \newcommand\mW{\milli\watt} \newcommand\kilowatt{\kilo\watt} \newcommand\kW{\kilo\watt} % % Energy \newcommand\joule{\unit{J}} \newcommand\J{\joule} % % Composite units % % Torque \newcommand\ozin{\unit{\ounce}\,\unit{in}} \newcommand\newtonmeter{\unit{\newton\,\meter}} % % Pressure \newcommand\psf{\unit{psf}} % pounds per square foot \newcommand\pcf{\unit{pcf}} % pounds per cubic foot \newcommand\pascal{\unit{Pa}} \newcommand\Pa{\pascal} \newcommand\ksi{\unit{ksi}} % kilopound per square inch \newcommand\bar{\unit{bar}} \end{aligned}\end{align} \]

Jan 19, 2026 | 355 words | 4 min read

14.2.1. Task 1

Learning Objectives

• Read external data in Python.

• Plot data in Python.

Task Instructions

Compare your results for the pre-task assignment with your team members Task 0. Run each member’s code and compare results with the given solutions. Discuss the differences and similarities of your approaches, highlighting strengths of each.

Part 1: Team Reflection

Answer the following questions in a reflection:

1. What similarities did you notice between the team’s codes? What differences?

2. For each team member, rank your comfort level in the following skills from 1 (not comfortable) to 5 (most comfortable).

   1. Reading from external files

   2. Writing output to external files

   3. Creating plots with Python

3. Choose one team member’s working code file to modify and improve in Part 2. Explain your choice.

Save the reflection as py4_team_1_teamnumber.pdf and turn it in with the remainder of the team task assignment files in Gradescope.

Part 2: Code Modification

Enhance the chosen team member’s pre-class activity code file with the following improvements:

1. Modify your figure to use the twinx() function to create a single plot with two y-axes instead of side-by-side subplots:

   • Shared x-axis: Time (days)

   • Left y-axis: Price (USD) — plot as a blue line with circle markers

   • Right y-axis: Volume (USD) — plot as a red bar chart

   Note

   You can refer to the matplotlib documentation on twinx() found here.

2. Adjust the plot settings for visibility:

   • Set the bar chart’s transparency to 0.2 (20% opacity).

   • Set the y-axis limits for Volume to range from 0 to 3 times the maximum volume. This ensures the bars stay in the bottom third of the graph.

   • Place the Price legend in the upper left and the Volume legend in the upper right.

   • Ensure that your plot matches the sample output below.

3. When calculating the Volume, use list comprehension instead of a for loop using the zip() function to iterate through the Quantity and Price lists simultaneously.

   Note

   List comprehensions are a more “Pythonic” way to create lists and can often lead to more concise and readable code. You can find examples of list comprehensions in the official Python tutorial.

When complete, save the modified file as py4_team_1_teamnumber.py and turn it in with the remainder of the team task assignment files in Gradescope.

Sample Output

Fig. 14.2 Case__py4_pre_0_plot.svg

Table 14.3 Deliverables

Deliverables	Description
py4_team_1_teamnumber.py	The Python code file chosen by the team for submission.
py4_team_1_teamnumber.pdf	The completed team reflection document.