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Programming Iterative Loops: - For - While

The document discusses different types of iterative loops in programming including for and while loops. For loops are used when iterating over a set number of iterations or successive integers, while while loops iterate until a condition is met. Examples are provided of using for and while loops to generate sequences, perform calculations, and test conditions.

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Rahul Chaturvedi
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62 views21 pages

Programming Iterative Loops: - For - While

The document discusses different types of iterative loops in programming including for and while loops. For loops are used when iterating over a set number of iterations or successive integers, while while loops iterate until a condition is met. Examples are provided of using for and while loops to generate sequences, perform calculations, and test conditions.

Uploaded by

Rahul Chaturvedi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Programming Iterative Loops

• for
• while
What was an iterative loop, again?
Recall this definition:
Iteration is when the same procedure is
repeated multiple times.

Some examples were long division, the


Fibonacci numbers, prime numbers, and the
calculator game. Some of these used
recursion as well, but not all of them.
Two Types of Iterative Loops
1.for loop: used when you want to plug in a
bunch of successive integers, or repeat a
procedure a given number of times

2.while loop: used when you want to iterate


until a certain condition is met, or when you
know in advance how many loops to run
Loops with “for”
for loops are used when want to plug in a
bunch of successive integers, or repeat a
procedure a given number of times.

The general structure is:


for x in ___:___
(do something)
end
Loops with “for”
Let’s say you wanted to print out the values of
y = x2 from x = 5 to x = 12. Here’s the code:

for x in 5:12
println(x^2)
end
Longer Loops with “for”
Now suppose you want to add up the values of
y = x2 – 5x + 11 from x = 0 to x = some number n.

This procedure is a bit longer:


1. Plug x into f(x)
2. Add that to the total
Repeat for x-values from 0 to n.
Longer Loops with “for”
(Program to add up the values of y = x2 – 5x + 11 from x =
0 to x = n)

function Sum(n)
f(x) = x^2 – 5x + 11
S = 0
for x in 0:n
S = S + f(x)
end
println(S)
end
A Funny Feature of “for”
for can also let you do something a certain
number of times; you don’t even need to apply
the value of n. Try this:

for n in 1:10
println("Mrs. Crabapple is perfect!")
end
For Loops With Recursion
Recall that the powers of two can be generated
using recursion – each term is double the previous
term. Here’s an example using a for loop to print
out the first ten powers of two:
x = 1
for n in 1:10
println(x)
x = 2x
end
Practice Problems 1 and 2
1. Use a “for” loop to generate a list of values of
y = 4x2 – 12 from x = -6 to x = 6.

2. Use a “for” loop to generate a sequence of


12 terms, starting with 20, where each term
is the square root of the previous term.
Fibonacci Numbers, Revisited
It is possible to generate the Fibonacci numbers
using a “for” loop, but the replacement is tricky.
The first two terms are easy:
a = 1
b = 1
And the looped procedure is easy:
c = a + b
Bu how will you get the next term, and the next,
without introducing any new variables?
Fibonacci Numbers, Revisited
a = 1 b = 1 c = a + b
We need to replace a and b with the next term:
a = b the value of b is now called “a”
b = c the value of c is now called “b”
and then repeat:
c = a + b the new value of c is a + b.
Practice Problem 3
3. Write a function including a “for” loop to
generate the first n numbers in the Fibonacci
sequence, including the first two. Use it to
generate a list of the first 15 Fibonacci numbers.
While Loops
A while loop is used when you want to iterate
until a certain condition is met, or when you
know in advance how many loops to run. The
format goes:

while (condition not met)


(do a bunch of stuff)
end
While Loops with Conditions
The repeated square root of a positive number will
always get closer to 1. Here is a function that will
repeatedly take square roots until within 0.001 of 1:

function reproot(x)
while abs(x – 1) > 0.001
x = sqrt(x)
println(x)
end
end
While Loops with Counters
Let’s say you wanted to know how many iterations it took
for the reproot program to get to within 0.001 of 1. You
could modify the program like this:

function reproot(x)
n = 0
while abs(x – 1) > .001
x = sqrt(x)
n = n + 1
end
println(n)
end
The number n is a counter – it just counts the loops.
While Loops with Counters, 2
Let’s say you wanted to run the reproot program
through 20 loops, then print the answer. This can also be
done using counters:

function reproot(x)
n = 0
while n < 20
x = sqrt(x)
n = n + 1
end
println(x)
end
While Loops vs. For Loops
For a set number of iterations, you could use
either “while” or “for”.
for loops are short and simple, but only work
when you’re trying to increment by an even
amount. You can make them increment by
numbers other than 1 using for n in
1:0.1:20, for example.
while loops are a little longer, but will work
even if you’re not incrementing evenly.
Practice Problem 4
4. Write a function, compound(P), that will
count how many years it will take for an
investment of P dollars, earning 5% interest, to
grow over $1,000,000.

Don’t forget to test your code!


Extension Problems 5 and 6
5. Working in groups or on your own, write a
function calcgame(x) that counts the number of
iterations in the calculator game. Here are the rules
again:
if x is odd, multiply by 3 and add 1.
if x is even, divide by 2.
Stop when x = 1.
Count the iterations.
Your function must include a “while” loop as well as
an “if/else” test.
6. Use a “for” command to list the iterations of the
calgame(x) function from x = 1 to x = 20.
Extension Problem 7
7. Working in groups or on your own, write a
program to test if a number is prime.
Your output should be some version of, “n is
prime” or “n is not prime”.

Don’t forget to test your code!

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