Computer

Programming: Lecture
5
Outline
• Iteration
Iteration
• Iteration is a fundamental concept in computer programming that
involves repeating a set of instructions multiple times until a certain
condition is met.
Loops
• A loop repeats a sequence of statements
We have two types of loops in python:
• while loop: are used to iterate over a block of code as long as a certain
condition is met.
• for loop: are used to iterate over a sequence of values. This could be a
list, tuple, string, or any other iterable object.
The while loop

while(condition):
<statements>
The while loop
More formally, here is the flow of execution for a while statement:
• Evaluate the condition, yielding True or False.
• If the condition is false, exit the while statement and continue execution at
the next statement.
• If the condition is true, execute the body
Example
Let us count 1 up to 10:

i=1
while(i <= 10):
print(i)
i=i+1

Demo: Let us write a function that can count up to a positive integer passed as an argument
Example
Let us write an accumulator loop:
Demo: Let us add a number 1 to 100
Example
Demo: Let us write a factorial function
Break statement
The break statement is used to exit a loop early. It can be used in both for loops and while loops.

i=0 0
while(i <= 10): 1
if(i == 5): 2
break 3
print(i) 4
i=i+1 The current value of I is: 5
print("The current value of i is:",i)
Example
Guess the output of this code:
i = 11
while(i <= 20):
if(i % 5 == 0):
break
print(i)
i=i+1
print("The current value of i is:",i)
Demo
Let us find the LCM of two numbers:
Continue statement
The continue statement is used to skip the current iteration of a loop and continue with the next
iteration.

while(i < 5):

i += 1 1
if(i == 3): 2
4
continue 5
print(i)
Continue Example

i=0 1
while(i < 10): 3
i=i+1 5
if(i % 2 == 0): 7
continue 9
print(i)
Continue statement
Guess the output of this code:
i=0
while(i < 10):
print(“Hello”)
if(i % 2 == 0):
continue
print(i)
i=i+1
Demo: While loop
Let us write arithmetic quiz game
Common Errors

x = 10
while(x > 0):
x += 1
Common Errors
Off by one error: A logic error that occurs in programming when an
iterative loop iterates one time too many or too few.
Arises when programmer makes mistakes such as
◦ Fails to take account that a sequence starts at zero rather than one
◦ Using “less than or equal to” in place of “less than” …
The range function
The range() function in Python is used to create a sequence of numbers. The syntax for the
range() function is as follows:

range(start, stop, step)

Range creates a sequence of number from the start to stop -1 (+1 if it is in reverse) apart by
the step value
The range function
range(0,10) -> creates a sequence starting 0 and ending at 9
range(0,10,2) -> creates a sequence containing 0,2,4,6, and 8
range(10) -> creates a sequence starting at 0 and ending at 9
range(10,1,-1) -> creates a sequence starting at 10 and ending at 2
For loop
The loop variable picks up the next value in a sequence on each pass through the loop

for variable in sequence:

block of code
For loop example

0
for i in range(5): 1
2
print(i)
3
4
Example
Let us write an accumulator loop:
Demo: Let us add a number 1 to 100
Demo: Let us write a factorial function
Break and Continue
for letter in "python": for letter in "python":
if(letter == "h"): if(letter == "h"):
break continue
print(letter) print(letter)
What is the output of this code?
rows = 5 rows = 5
for i in range(1, rows + 1): for i in range(rows, 0, -1):
print('*' * i) print('*' * i)

Question: Convert this to while loop

What is the output of this code?
rows = 5
for i in range(1, rows + 1):
print(' ' * (rows - i) + '*' * i)

Question: Convert it to while loop

Nested Loops
• A nested loop is a loop that is contained within another loop.
• The inner or outer loop can be any type, such as a while loop or for loop. For example, the outer
for loop can contain a while loop and vice versa.
•Each time the outer loop is repeated, the inner loops are re-entered and started anew.

# outer loop
# outer loop
for element in sequence:
while condition:
# inner loop
# inner loop
for element in sequence:
while condition:
# body of inner loop
# body of inner loop
# body of outer loop
# body of outer loop
Example
What is the output of the following snippets

for i in range(5): i=0

for j in range(2): while(i < 5):
print(i,j) j=0
while(j < 2):
print(i,j)
j+=1
i += 1
What is the output of this code?
rows = 5
for i in range(1, rows + 1):
for j in range(i):
print('*', end=' ')
print()
What is the output of this code?
rows = 5
# outer loop
while rows > 0:
# inner loop
cols = 3
while cols > 0:
# print star
print("*", end=" ")
# decrement cols by one
cols -= 1
# print new line
print()
# decrement rows by one
rows -= 1
Example
rows = 5
# outer loop
while rows > 0:
# inner loop
cols = 3
while cols > 0:
# print star
print("*", end=" ")
# decrement cols by one
cols -= 1
# print new line
print()
Question: Draw this pattern
# decrement rows by one without using nested loops.
rows -= 1
Some Loop Questions
Write a python program that accepts a positive number and prints the sum of the digits.

Write a python program that counts the frequency of a digit in a given number.
Eg. digit_counter(1223,2) -> 2