Tool usage (function calling) in Prompt Engineering / GenAI - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

🧠 Conceptual

intermediate

Understanding function calling in AI tool usage

Which statement best describes the purpose of function calling in AI tools?

A It is used to train the AI model by calling training functions repeatedly.

B It automatically fixes bugs in the AI code without human intervention.

C It allows the AI to request specific external actions or data by invoking predefined functions.

D It generates random outputs without any input or function definitions.

💡 Hint

Think about how AI can interact with external systems or APIs.

Function calling lets AI request specific tasks or data by invoking predefined functions, enabling dynamic and controlled interactions.

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output of a function call in AI tool usage

What is the output of the following function call simulation in an AI tool?

Prompt Engineering / GenAI

def get_weather(city):
    return f"The weather in {city} is sunny."

result = get_weather('Paris')
print(result)

A The weather in city is sunny.

B The weather in Paris is sunny.

C The weather in Paris is rainy.

D Error: function get_weather not defined.

💡 Hint

Look at the function return string and the argument passed.

The function returns a string with the city name inserted. Since 'Paris' is passed, the output includes 'Paris'.

❓ Model Choice

advanced

Choosing the right function for AI tool usage

You want an AI tool to fetch the current stock price for a company. Which function call is most appropriate?

A fetch_stock_price(company_symbol: str) -> float

B train_stock_model(data: list) -> None

C generate_random_number() -> int

D save_to_database(data: dict) -> bool

💡 Hint

Focus on the function that retrieves stock price information.

The function fetch_stock_price is designed to get the current stock price given a company symbol, which matches the task.

❓ Hyperparameter

advanced

Setting parameters for function calls in AI tools

When calling a function to generate text with an AI model, which parameter controls the randomness of the output?

A max_depth

B batch_size

C learning_rate

D temperature

💡 Hint

Think about which parameter affects creativity or randomness in generated text.

The temperature parameter controls randomness: higher values produce more random outputs, lower values make output more predictable.

🔧 Debug

expert

Debugging a function call error in AI tool usage

Given this function call in an AI tool, what error will it raise?

Prompt Engineering / GenAI

def get_user_info(user_id: int):
    return {'id': user_id, 'name': 'Alice'}

info = get_user_info('123')
print(info)

A No error, prints {'id': '123', 'name': 'Alice'}.

B KeyError because 'name' key is missing.

C TypeError because a string was passed instead of an int.

D SyntaxError due to missing colon.

💡 Hint

Check the function parameter type and the argument passed.

The function expects an integer user_id, but a string '123' is passed, causing a TypeError in strict type checking environments.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of calling a function in AI tool usage?

easy

A. To perform a specific task using given inputs

B. To create new data without inputs

C. To store data permanently

D. To display the AI model architecture

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand function role in AI tools

   Functions are blocks of code designed to perform specific tasks when called with inputs.

2. Step 2: Identify the purpose of calling functions

   Calling a function means using it to do a job, usually with parameters to guide the task.

3. Final Answer:

   To perform a specific task using given inputs -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Function call = perform task with inputs [OK]

Hint: Functions do tasks using inputs, not just store or show data [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking functions create data without inputs
• Confusing function calls with data storage
• Assuming functions only display info

2. Which of the following is the correct way to call a function named generate_text with a parameter prompt in Python?

easy

A. generate_text = prompt

B. generate_text->prompt()

C. call generate_text(prompt)

D. generate_text(prompt)

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall Python function call syntax

   In Python, functions are called by writing the function name followed by parentheses enclosing parameters.

2. Step 2: Match syntax with options

   generate_text(prompt) uses the correct syntax: function name followed by parentheses with parameter inside.

3. Final Answer:

   generate_text(prompt) -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Python function call = name(params) [OK]

Hint: Use functionName(parameters) to call in Python [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using assignment (=) instead of call
• Adding extra keywords like 'call'
• Using wrong symbols like '->'

3. Given the code:

def add_numbers(a, b):
    return a + b

result = add_numbers(3, 5)
print(result)

What will be printed?

medium

A. None

B. 8

C. TypeError

D. 35

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand function behavior

   The function add_numbers takes two inputs and returns their sum.

2. Step 2: Calculate the sum of inputs 3 and 5

   3 + 5 equals 8, so the function returns 8, which is stored in result.

3. Final Answer:

   8 -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   3 + 5 = 8 [OK]

Hint: Add inputs inside function to get output [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Concatenating numbers as strings (35)
• Expecting error due to parameters
• Ignoring return value (None)

4. Identify the error in this function call:

def translate(text, language):
    return f"{text} in {language}"

result = translate("Hello")
print(result)

medium

A. Return statement syntax error

B. Function name is incorrect

C. Missing second argument 'language' in function call

D. Print statement is missing parentheses

Solution

1. Step 1: Check function definition parameters

   The function translate requires two parameters: text and language.

2. Step 2: Check function call arguments

   The call translate("Hello") provides only one argument, missing the second required parameter.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing second argument 'language' in function call -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   All parameters must be given when calling [OK]

Hint: Count parameters in definition and match in call [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring missing arguments
• Assuming default values without definition
• Misreading function name or print syntax

5. You want to use a function summarize_text that takes a long text and a number max_length to limit summary size. Which call correctly uses this function to summarize article with a max length of 100?

hard

A. summary = summarize_text(article, max_length=100)

B. summary = summarize_text(max_length=100, article)

C. summary = summarize_text(article max_length=100)

D. summary = summarize_text(article, 100, max_length)

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand function parameters and calling conventions

   The function expects two inputs: the text and the max_length number. Keyword arguments can be used to specify parameters by name.

2. Step 2: Identify correct syntax for positional and keyword arguments

   summary = summarize_text(article, max_length=100) correctly passes article as the first argument and uses max_length=100 as a keyword argument.

3. Final Answer:

   summary = summarize_text(article, max_length=100) -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Positional first, then keyword args [OK]

Hint: Use positional args first, then named args [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Placing keyword argument before positional
• Missing commas between arguments
• Adding extra unexpected arguments