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Digital · Guided lesson

Parameterize boundary cases

About 16 minutes · 4 reading + 12 practice and checks
Time includes reading, practice, and questions. Extra videos or further study are optional.
See this course’s project requirements

A runnable automated test suite for an original parcel-price module with boundary cases, isolated fixtures, failure evidence and a repaired regression.

Keep your working files in your own notebook or software. Save a private description, checklist, and work link in My Proof.

What to include

  • A price assertion table with independent expected values.
  • An executable unit-test record with independent cases.
  • A labeled boundary-test table across both price tiers.
  • A rejection suite with a passing valid boundary comparison.
  • An isolated file test with declared automatic cleanup.
  • A failing-then-passing regression record with source and run instructions.

Review and revise

Use these criteria to check your work and choose what to improve.

  • The implementation or declared simulation follows the supplied contract and retains inspectable original inputs.
  • Normal, boundary and rejected cases are recorded with expected versus observed results.
  • The changed case has a correct explanation and does not rely on hidden state.
  • The project includes source, outputs, instructions and honest tool, privacy and verification limits.
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Before you begin

The idea in everyday life

Boundary table:1→4,1.01→7,5→7. Invalid 5.01 belongs in the rejection table.

The idea

A boundary separates rules, so test both sides and the exact boundary. subTest labels cases within a test without hiding which input failed.

Follow along

Parameterize boundary cases — original worked practice

A boundary separates rules, so test both sides and the exact boundary. subTest labels cases within a test without hiding which input failed.

Boundary table:1→4,1.01→7,5→7. Invalid 5.01 belongs in the rejection table.

  1. 1. Step 1

    Write values just below, at and just above 1.

    You should see: 0.99→4,1→4,1.01→7.

    This keeps the rule and its observable result together.

  2. 2. Step 2

    Read the subTest(weight=weight) label.

    You should see: A failure identifies the case weight.

    This keeps the rule and its observable result together.

  3. 3. Step 3

    Add the upper accepted boundary 5.

    You should see: 5→7.

    This keeps the rule and its observable result together.

  4. 4. Step 4

    Run the table and keep expected/observed values.

    You should see: A labeled boundary-test table across both price tiers.

    This keeps the rule and its observable result together.

Now change one thing

Add a new parameter-table row for weight 4.75 kg. Calculate the expected fee independently, then add (4.75, expected) to the boundary table in a copy and rerun. Enter its expected fee in USD.

Your work

What to finish

A labeled boundary-test table across both price tiers.

Common mistake

Watch for this

Skipping the exact one-kilogram boundary where the stated fee changes.

How can I tell I understand it?

Explain and demonstrate the required distinction: A boundary separates rules, so test both sides and the exact boundary. subTest labels cases within a test without hiding which input failed. Show a changed input and the expected result without weakening this contract.

Try 3 questions

Quick knowledge check

Answer all 3 questions. Get at least 2 right and the lesson completes automatically.

Not yet passed

You’ll get an explanation for each answer. Signed in? Your results save to your account.

1Which case detects a mistaken weight<1 rule?
2What is the expected result for 5 kg?
3Why label subTests with weight?
0 of 3 answeredApply the lesson to a short question, then review the explanation.
3
Finish this lesson

Pass the check. We’ll save the progress.

Answer all 3 questions above and get at least 2 right. You can review the explanations and try again.

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Sources and further reading

Explore the references behind this lesson.

docs.python.org — unittest.html
Source & access notes · checked 2026-10-01

Relevant documented module/API behavior inspected during expansion authoring; actual execution evidence is recorded separately. No grant eligibility is established.

Access: Official page retrieved with the web reader on 2026-10-01. Documentation reading does not certify execution in every native tool or browser.

Reuse: Original local practice files, fictional data, worked examples and questions. Concepts paraphrased and linked; source exercises are not copied.

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