Programming Puzzle 1 - Simple Loop

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: Programming Puzzle 1 - Simple Loop

So, do I get the bonus point for the least iterations?

Sorry, no. By stepping out of the bounds created for the exercse you've earned the careful attention of our venerable scorekeeper, Prof. Pickypicky. He will be keeping a sharp eye on your future puzzle submittals!

ps. I'd be tempted to ask him to reconsider if your script furnished a "proof" for the even number formula you employed.

-- tom

[pmanandhar]

Re: Programming Puzzle 1 - Simple Loop

hi tom,
I wasn't really worried about the points but now you said it so I made some changes with comments, loop and message box. So, do I get the bonus point for the least iterations.

option strict
	'dim all variables 
	'n1 = starting value , n2 = ending value (both inclusive) 
	dim n1 as n = 0                  
	dim n2 as n = 0
	dim x1 as n = 0
	dim x2 as n = 0
	dim i as n = 0
	dim add_even as n = 0	' to add even numbers
	dim add_odd as n = 0	' to add odd number (optional)
	dim msg as c=""
	n1 = 101			' start value to add
	n2 = 302			' end value to stop adding
	x1 = n1
	x2 = n2
	i = 1
	if (mod(n1,2)=0)	' check if even
	   n1=n1-1			'subtract one because by formula works with starting value as odd and ending as even
	end if
	if (mod(n2,2)=1)	' similiar to above reason
	   n2=n2-1
	end if
	if (mod(x1,2)=0)
	   x1=x1+1
	end if
	if (mod(x2,2)=1)
	   x2=x2+1
	end if
	for i = 1 to 1
		add_even=((n2^2)-(n1^2)+(n2*2)+1)/4 'formula to add even values between n1 and n2
		add_odd =((x2^2)-(x1^2)+(x1*2)-1)/4 'formula to add odd values between n1 and n2
	next 
	ui_msg_box("Total Iterations",i)
	ui_msg_box("Total of the even numbers",add_even)
	ui_msg_box("Total of the odd numbers",add_odd)

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: Programming Puzzle 1 - Simple Loop

Thinking outside the box, are we, now?

Pratik, your solution gets the correct result. However, our fearless scorekeeper, "Ignatious A. Pickypicky", has deducted points for (a) the absence of explanatory comments; and (b) the failure to display the computed results in a message box. Care to try again? Maybe you'll catch Pickypicky in a better mood!

[pmanandhar]

Re: Programming Puzzle 1 - Simple Loop

This is the basic, simplest and best problem for anyone learning to program. I saw some of the simplest code and a little challenging ones. I was wondering if anyone even thought to solve this without using a loop?? Anyone?? I am sorry that I'm not following the question to solve the answer but my point is to view things little differently.

Check this out:
Below is the code to add even/odd numbers between n1 and n2 without using any loops. I'm sorry again that I'm violating the rules of the question and not following instructions. But here is something I got.. I created a formula to add odd and even numbers.

        dim n1 as n 
	dim n2 as n 
	dim x1 as n 
	dim x2 as n 
	dim add_even as n = 0
	dim add_odd as n = 0
	dim msg as c=""
	n1 = 101
	n2 = 302
	x1 = n1
	x2 = n2
	if (mod(n1,2)=0)
	   n1=n1-1
	end if
	if (mod(n2,2)=1)
	   n2=n2-1
	end if
	if (mod(x1,2)=0)
	   x1=x1+1
	end if
	if (mod(x2,2)=1)
	   x2=x2+1
	end if
	add_even=((n2^2)-(n1^2)+(n2*2)+1)/4
	add_odd =((x2^2)-(x1^2)+(x1*2)-1)/4
	?add_even+"<br/>"
	?add_odd+""

[GGandhi]

Re: Programming Puzzle 1 - Simple Loop

Govindan, that's very good. You've used the loop correctly. Notice several things:

a) the message board reformatted your code, forcing every line to be left justified. You can overcome this and preserve the formatting in your script if you use the "advanced" message board editor (choose "Go Advanced" button). Then select the text to be "preserved" and apply "CODE" tags to it. If this isn't clear let us know.

b) In these lines:

msg=("Total iterations: "+x+" Total of the even numbers: "+sumx)
ui_msg_box("Total Iterations",x)
ui_msg_box("Total of the even numbers",sumx)

you're concatenating character strings with numeric values. To do this Alpha must convert your numeric values to character strings for you. While Alpha tries hard to do this "implied" data type conversion when it's needed, it does not always succeed. A better practice is to explicitly convert your numeric data to character strings before doing the concatenation. Check Cal Locklin's sample code in this thread (above).

c) Also, notice that once the first "even" number is encountered, you could optimize the code by stepping through the number range two numbers at a time. Bouncing from even to even so to speak. This would cut the number of trips through loop in half if you see what I mean.

Good work.

-- tom

Thank you, Much appreciated.

gandhi

[CALocklin]

Re: Programming Puzzle 1 - Simple Loop

...
'Dimming all variables in one place can make them easier to locate
...

And alphabetizing a long list makes it easier also. I do this often enough that I've included a "sort clipboard" routine in my AIMS Grab Bag. (At least I think it's there. I know it's in my personal version.) The code is really simple - just one line - and could be added to a custom "Sort Clipboard" button on your Code Editor toolbar:

clipboard.set_data( sortsubstr( clipboard.get_data(), crlf() ) )

To use it for sorting a group of lines in your Code Editor, just highlight the lines, press Ctrl-C to copy them, click the custom button to sort them, and press Ctrl-V to replace the already selected "old" list with the sorted string. (Ctrl-V is the shortcut key for "Paste".)

I also use this in other places. For example, I've sometimes created a crlf list for the user to select from, added and/or deleted from it, and then want to sort the list to make it easier for the user to work with.

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: Programming Puzzle 1 - Simple Loop

Govindan, that's very good. You've used the loop correctly. Notice several things:

a) the message board reformatted your code, forcing every line to be left justified. You can overcome this and preserve the formatting in your script if you use the "advanced" message board editor (choose "Go Advanced" button). Then select the text to be "preserved" and apply "CODE" tags to it. If this isn't clear let us know.

b) In these lines:

msg=("Total iterations: "+x+" Total of the even numbers: "+sumx)
ui_msg_box("Total Iterations",x)
ui_msg_box("Total of the even numbers",sumx)

you're concatenating character strings with numeric values. To do this Alpha must convert your numeric values to character strings for you. While Alpha tries hard to do this "implied" data type conversion when it's needed, it does not always succeed. A better practice is to explicitly convert your numeric data to character strings before doing the concatenation. Check Cal Locklin's sample code in this thread (above).

c) Also, notice that once the first "even" number is encountered, you could optimize the code by stepping through the number range two numbers at a time. Bouncing from even to even so to speak. This would cut the number of trips through loop in half if you see what I mean.

Good work.

-- tom

[GGandhi]

Re: Programming Puzzle 1 - Simple Loop

puzzle conditions:
1> use option strict
2> add up even numbers between 101 and 302 both inclusive
3> show the number of iterations and the result in a message box
4> include comments.
while i am not certainly an expert this is my attempt...

option strict
'dim all variables 
'x iteration variable, j number palce holder for start and end
'sumx total of even nunbers
'msg 
dim x as n=0
dim j as n
dim sumx as n=0
dim msg as c=""
for j=101 to 302
	x=x+1
	if mod(j,2)=0
		sumx=sumx+j
		end if
	next
	msg=("Total iterations:  "+x+" Total of the even numbers:  "+sumx)
	ui_msg_box("Total Iterations",x)
	ui_msg_box("Total of the even numbers",sumx)
	ui_msg_box("Puzzle",msg)

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Programming Puzzle 1 - Simple Loop

Another take using xdialog to display the results.

option strict
'If you place the OPTION STRICT command at the top of a script then you must declare variables explicitly using the DIM command.
dim entries_to_use as C = ""
dim qx as N = 101
dim loops as N = 0
DIM SHARED varC_result as C
dim ok_button_label as C = "&OK"
'Dimming all variables in one place can make them easier to locate
FOR qx = if(mod(qx,2)=0,qx,qx+1) TO 302 step 2 'computed starting loop value, optional step parameter
	entries_to_use = entries_to_use+alltrim(str(qx))+crlf()
	loops = increment_value(loops)
NEXT qx
qx = *total(entries_to_use) 'The *TOTAL() function totals a list of numeric entries.
'xdialog follows to display values, The R directive makes the text in a Text Box read-only.
varC_result = ui_dlg_box("Alpha Five",<<%dlg%
{region}
Loops:| [%r%.40loops];
Sum of Values:| [%r%.40qx];
{endregion};
{line=1,0};
{region}
<*15=ok_button_label!OK>
{endregion};
%dlg%)

[Al Buchholz]

Re: Programming Puzzle 1 - Simple Loop

Took some liberties with "and then display the answer in a message box....".

Your shore liberty is canceled - again

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Programming Puzzle 1 - Simple Loop

A while loop version. Some lesser used functions and methods employed.

option strict
'If you place the OPTION STRICT command at the top of a script then you must declare variables explicitly using the DIM command.
dim entries_to_use as C = ""
dim qx as N = 101
dim loops as N = 0
'Dimming all variables in one place can make them easier to locate
TRACE.CLEAR() 'Clear the Trace window before writing text to it.
WHILE qx < 303
	IF mod(qx,2) = 0 'checks for even number
		entries_to_use = entries_to_use+alltrim(str(qx))+crlf() 'builds crlf() delimited string
		traceln("Even number "+alltrim(str(qx))+" current loop value "+alltrim(str(loops))) 'writes the number and current loop to the trace window
	END IF
	qx = qx + 1 'increments possible values to be summed variable
	loops = increment_value(loops) 'increments loop variable
END WHILE

qx = *total(entries_to_use) 'The *TOTAL() function totals a list of numeric entries.
'Note that there is nothing illegal about re-using a numeric variable for a second purpose
traceln("Sum "+alltrim(str(qx))+" total loops "+alltrim(str(loops)))
ui_msg_box("Note","Activate the Error tab of the next window to appear."+crlf()+"to see the sum of values and loop total.")
A5_TOGGLE_TRACE_WINDOW() 'The A5_TOGGLE_TRACE_WINDOW() function opens the Trace window if it is closed, and closes it if it is open.

Took some liberties with "and then display the answer in a message box....".

[Mbuso]

Re: Programming Puzzle 1 - Simple Loop

Heres a different approach...

will work with any two numbers from 0 to ... [tested with 1000000]

enjoy :-)

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: Programming Puzzle 1 - Simple Loop

Yes, grasshoppers. Understanding the question is the key to enlightenment.

For the beginners who may be lurking nearby, would anyone like to explain how the "For ... Next" loop does it's magic?

So far no one has attempted a solution using a "While ... End While" loop. Any takers?

[CALocklin]

Re: Programming Puzzle 1 - Simple Loop

Dave, I'm happy to say you don't read any better than I do!

I completely missed the part where Tom said, "and the number of times your code iterated through your loop."

You missed the part where he said, "sums the even numbered values". 101 wasn't even last time I checked.

[DaveM]

Re: Programming Puzzle 1 - Simple Loop

David and Cal,

If you use the 101 instead of the 102, your answer is actually less. which is correct? Tom said 101-302.