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Loop/Iteration structures & Booleans. Iteration. Iteration just means we keep doing the same thing over and over until some threshold is reached, until a condition has been met. We’ve already seen a definite or counted loop: for i in range(15):. # average1.py - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Iteration just means we keep doing the same thing over and over until some threshold is reached, until a condition has been met.
We’ve already seen a definite or counted loop:for i in range(15):
# average1.py# A program to average a set of numbers# Illustrates counted loop with accumulator
def main(): n = input("How many numbers do you have? ") sum = 0.0 for i in range(n): x = input("Enter a number >> ") sum = sum + x print "\nThe average of the numbers is", sum / n
main()
A definite or counted loop assumes we know or can control exactly how many times the loop is executed. In the examplefor x in range(10)we supply the number of iterations—10.
But there are times when we, the programmers, won’t know how many iterations we need.
For these instances, we use indefinite or conditional loops.
The generic form of the conditional loop uses the while keyword….while <condition>: <body>
The <condition> is a Boolean statement, as with decision/selection structures.
while i <= 10: for i in range(11) print i print i i = i + 1
These are equivalent
Here are a few important things to remember as you work with while loops:
Initialize your index value before you start the while loop
Make sure your index value will at some point meet the condition
Don’t forget to increment the index value
Here’s what I mean: i = 0 while i <= 10: print i
This code will continue indefinitely, because the value of i never changes. Hence i will never exceed 10, thus violating the condition and ending the loop. This is an INFINITE LOOP.
On the other hand, if you fail to initialize your index value, or initialize it so that it can never meet the condition, the loop will likely never happen at all.
while i <= 10: print i i = i + 1
i = 16while i <= 10: print i i = i + 1
In this case, since i is never assigned an initial value, the loop just won’t happen.
In this case, i is assigned a value that already violates the condition—so the loop never happens
The example we’ve been looking at assumes we, the programmers, set the number of iterations, e.g., i <= 10. But sometimes we want the user to determine how many iterations there are.
Here’s the algorithm: set continue? to Yes while continue? = yes get first piece of data process that piece of data if there is more data, don’t change continue?
otherwise, set continue? to No
For example, if we wanted to ask the user for the prices of things he/she wanted to buy, then add them up, we could use an interative loop:
cont= “y”total = 0.0while cont == “y”: v = input(“Enter a price: “) total = total + v cont = raw_input(“To continue, type ‘y’; to quit, type ‘n’)print total
# average2.py# A program to average a set of numbers# Illustrates interactive loop with two accumulators
def main(): moredata = "yes" sum = 0.0 count = 0 while moredata[0] == 'y': x = input("Enter a number >> ") sum = sum + x count = count + 1 moredata = raw_input("Do you have more numbers (yes or no)? ") print "\nThe average of the numbers is", sum / count
main()
Instead of asking the user BOTH if she/he wants to continue AND to enter another value, programmers often use sentinel values, which just means that if users enter a special value instead of a regular data item, the loop ends and the program is over. Usually that sentinel value is a negative number, since we commonly ( when we ask users for values) want positive values from our users.
Here’s the syntax that would offer the user the option to enter a real piece of data or a special value to quit (usually it’s a negative number to quit):
num = input(“Enter a number, or a negative number to quit”)
# average3.py# A program to average a set of numbers# Illustrates sentinel loop using negative input as sentinel
def main(): sum = 0.0 count = 0 x = input("Enter a number (negative to quit) >> ") while x >= 0: sum = sum + x count = count + 1 x = input("Enter a number (negative to quit) >> ") print "\nThe average of the numbers is", sum / count
main()
Notice that the index value, x, is initialized BEFORE the while loop starts
If we wanted to be able to include negative numbers in our program, using a sentinel value which is negative wouldn’t work. It would be better to just ask the user to hit the <ENTER> key without a value.
We can do this if we use raw_input() to get a string; if the string is empty the loop quits. If the string exists (if the user has typed in a number), we can use the eval() function to successfully apply arithmetic.
# average4.py# A program to average a set of numbers# Illustrates sentinel loop using empty string as sentinel
def main(): sum = 0.0 count = 0 xStr = raw_input("Enter a number (<Enter> to quit) >> ") while xStr != "": x = eval(xStr) sum = sum + x count = count + 1 xStr = raw_input("Enter a number (<Enter> to quit) >> ") print "\nThe average of the numbers is", sum / count
main()
Of course, it would be easier to import a file with all the scores already entered. Earlier, we used a definite loop to read through the lines in a file; the stop condition was neatly determined by the Python syntax:infile = open(fileName, ‘r’)for line in infile:<body of statements>
We can also use a while loop, but in this case we need to be able to designate the end of the file to stop the loop.
In this case, the while loop is used to read one line of the file after another, and to process the data in each line. When the end of the file is reached, the loop stops.
The loop does not stop at blank lines in the file because there is an invisible control symbol \n
Here’s the code for a while loop that will stop at the end of the file:
infile = open(fileName, ‘r’)nuline = infile.readline()while nuline != “”: #process the line nuline = infile.readline()
# average6.py# Computes the average of numbers listed in a file.
def main(): fileName = raw_input("What file are the numbers in? ") infile = open(fileName,'r') sum = 0.0 count = 0 line = infile.readline() while line != "": sum = sum + eval(line) count = count + 1 line = infile.readline() print "\nThe average of the numbers is", sum / count
if __name__ == '__main__': main()
Often we have to work through a file that contains data on each line that must be processed one by one. To do this, we want nested loops. The outer loop works through the file, line by line; the inner loop performs repetitive work on the data within one line.
# a program demonstrating nested for loops
def main(): index = 0 for y in range(5): for x in range(4): print 'In the "nested" for loop:', index, x, y
index += 1 # This adds one to index main()
# average7.py# Computes the average of numbers listed in a file.# Works with multiple numbers on a line.
import string
def main(): fileName = raw_input("What file are the numbers in? ") infile = open(fileName,'r') sum = 0.0 count = 0 line = infile.readline() while line != "": for xStr in string.split(line, ","): sum = sum + eval(xStr) count = count + 1 line = infile.readline() print "\nThe average of the numbers is", sum / count
if __name__ == '__main__': main()
Sometimes simple conditional expressions don’t accomplish what we need done. If we try to use simple conditional expressions with decision statements, it can get really messy and cumbersome.
The solution is to combine conditional expressions into more complex expressions. To do this we need Boolean operators.
If we wanted to grant awards for GPAs between certain ranges, we might need Boolean operators. For example, imagine this scheme:
So, grades between 4.0 and 3.8 get the Poobah; between 3.8 and 3.5, the Nabob; and between 3.5 and 3.3, the Enchilada.
GPA GPA Award
Up to 4.0 Greater than 3.8
Poobah
3.8 or less Greater than 3.5
Nabob
3.5 or less Greater than 3.3
Enchilada
If we put together two conditions using a Boolean operator, we can come up with one condition:GPA = input(“Please enter your GPA”)if GPA <= 4.0 and GPA > 3.8 print “you’ve won the Poobah!”elif GPA <= 3.8 and GPA > 3.5 print “you’ve won the Nabob!”elif GPA <= 3.5 and GPA > 3.3 print “you’ve won the Enchilada!”else print “Sorry, no cigar.”
Notice that if we make any changes in this code—for example, if we change elif GPA <= 3.8 and GPA > 3.5 to elif GPA <= 3.8 and GPA >= 3.5then a GPA of 3.5 would qualify for both the Nabob and Enchilada awards.
The moral: when setting up Boolean conditions, pay close attention to “boundary conditions”, and test for those to make sure you get the results you want.
Operator Function
and (binary) Both conditions must be true for the whole expression to be true
or (binary) Only one condition must be true for the whole expression to be true
not (unary) The whole expression is true only if the one condition is false
Arithmetic Operator
Function
== equal to
>= greater than or equal to
<= less than or equal to
> greater than
< less than
!= not equal to
The example we just looked at:
Condition1 Condition2 Whole expression
True True True
True False False
False True False
False False False
If GPA is: Condition1: GPA <= 4.0
Condition2: GPA > 3.8
Whole expression
3.87 True True True
3.80 True False False
4.0 True True True
3.6 True False False
The example we just looked at:
Condition1 Condition2 Whole expression
True True True
True False True
False True True
False False False
If GPA is: Condition1: GPA <= 4.0
Condition2: GPA > 3.8
Whole expression
3.87 True True True
3.80 True False True
4.0 True True True
3.6 True False True
not is an unary operator, which means it works on just one condition, not on two condition, like the binary operators and & or. The truth table for not is very simple:
Condition1 Whole expression
True False
False True
Condition1: GPA > 3.5 Whole expression
True False
False True
A racquetball game can end when either play reaches a score of 15.
If we were to write a code fragment to express this, it would look like this:while not (playerA == 15 or playerB == 15) #continue playing
The combined or statement will evaluate as true if either player reaches 15; but they will not continue playing if this is true.
Here’s another condition: the racquetball game stops if either player reaches 15 OR the score is 7-0.
In code:scoreA == 15 or scoreB == 15 or (scoreA == 7 and scoreB == 0) or (scoreB == 7 and scoreA == 0)
Because we are linking each expression with a Boolean or, if any one of the conditions is true, the whole expression is true.
In volleyball, one team must reach 15 AND win by at least two points.
To do this in code: (scoreA >= 15 and scoreA-scoreB >= 2) or (scoreB >= 15 and scoreB –scoreA >= 2
Or, even more condensed: (scoreA >= 15 or scoreB >= 15) and abs(scoreA –scoreB) >= 2
There are parallels between Boolean rules and the laws of simple algebra. For example
Hence 0 evaluates as false in computer languages, and 1 evaluates as true. Also, and is similar to multiplication and or is similar to addition.
a * 0 = 0 a and false = = false
a * 1 = a a and true == a
a + 0 = a a or false == a
Three more things about Boolean algebra: A double negative cancels out:not (not a) == a or !(not a) == a
Distribution:a or (b and c) == (a or b) and (a or c)a and (b or c) == (a and b) or (a and c)
DeMorgan’s laws:not(a or b) == (not a) and (not b)not(a and b) == (not a) or (not b)
Essentially, input validation tests what the user has entered, and if it’s not a valid entry, then the program keeps asking for a valid entry until the user provides one.
This is particularly useful when using a sentinel value to control a loop—for example, if the user enters a negative number the loop stops.
In order to make this work, the user has to enter a value in the loop.
In other words, the loop starts, then the user is prompted for an entry, the entry value is tested, and if it is valid, the loop continues; otherwise, the user is reprompted.
userData = -1while userData <0:
userData = input(“Enter a GPA”) if userData < 0: print “Enter a positive number”
Python provides a keyword, break, to suddenly exit a loop. This can be used in a validity check.
while True: userData = input(“Enter your GPA”) if userData >= 0: break print “Enter a positive number”
Python 2.3 supports a bool data type, which evaluates as to either false or true. False is interpreted as zero, true usually as 1, but in fact any number other than 0 will evaluate as true.
In the case of strings, any string that is not empty can be evaluated as true. An empty string will be evaluated as false.
Because Python has loose data typing (meaning that the programmer doesn’t have to explicitly designate data types, and a variable can change data types on assignment), a string variable can be evaluated as a bool data type.
response = raw_input(“Enter your class: SR, JR, SO, FR”)if response: # in other words, if response is true, that is not empty classRank = responseelse: classRank = “SR”
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