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PRO511-Chapter 4 Lecture Notes

Chapter Four covers repetition structures in Python, focusing on while loops and for loops. It explains condition-controlled and count-controlled loops, how to calculate a running total, and the use of sentinels to terminate loops. Additionally, it introduces nested loops for complex iterations and discusses augmented assignment operators for simplifying variable updates.

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2 views

PRO511-Chapter 4 Lecture Notes

Chapter Four covers repetition structures in Python, focusing on while loops and for loops. It explains condition-controlled and count-controlled loops, how to calculate a running total, and the use of sentinels to terminate loops. Additionally, it introduces nested loops for complex iterations and discusses augmented assignment operators for simplifying variable updates.

Uploaded by

ayandiswasthembelendlovu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter Four: Repetition Structures

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this section, learners should be able to:

• Use the while loop to write loop-controlled programs.

• Write programs that use a count-controlled loop.

• Write a program that calculates a Running Total.

• Understand and use sentinels to terminate loops.

• Validate input using loops.

• Implement programs that use nested loops.

4.1 Introduction

Repetition structures, also known as looping structures, allow you to repeat a set of instructions
multiple times. There are two main types of looping structures in Python: for loops and while
loops.

4.2 Introduction to Repetition Structures

Repetition structures (loops) allow you to execute a block of code multiple times. Python has
two types of loops:

• For loops: Used to iterate over a sequence (such as a list, tuple, or string) or any iterable
object, executing a block of code for each item.

• While loops: Used to repeatedly execute a block of code as long as a given condition
remains true.

Condition-Controlled and Count-Controlled Loops

A condition-controlled loop uses a true/false condition to determine whether it should


continue iterating. A count-controlled loop executes a predetermined number of times.

4.3 The While Loop: A Condition-Controlled Loop

A while loop executes as long as its condition remains true.

Syntax:

count = 0

while count < 5:

print(count)

count += 1

Output:

0
1

Example (User Input Control):

keep_going = 'y'

while keep_going == 'y':

keep_going = input("Continue? (y/n): ")

4.4 The For Loop

A for loop executes a block of code a set number of times.

Syntax:

for variable in [value1, value2, etc.]:

statement

Example:

for num in [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]:

print(num)

4.5 Using the range Function with the for Loop

The range function generates a sequence of numbers:

Syntax:

for variable in range(start, end, step):

statement

Example:

for num in range(1, 10, 2):

print(num)

4.6 Calculating a Running Total

A running total accumulates values in a loop.

Example:

numbers = [5, 3, 7, 2, 8]
running_total = 0

for number in numbers:

running_total += number

print(f'The total is {running_total}.')

4.7 Sentinels

A sentinel is a special value that signals a loop to stop.

Example: Property Tax Calculation

TAX_FACTOR = 0.0065

print('Enter property lot number or 0 to end.')

lot = int(input('Lot number: '))

while lot != 0:

value = float(input('Enter property value: '))

tax = value * TAX_FACTOR

print(f'Property tax: ${tax:,.2f}')

lot = int(input('Enter next lot number or 0 to end: '))

4.8 Nested Loops

A nested loop is a loop inside another loop.

Syntax:

for outer in range(1, 4):

for inner in range(1, 4):

print(f'Outer: {outer}, Inner: {inner}')

Summary

• While loops run as long as a condition is true.

• For loops iterate over sequences or use range().

• Sentinels help terminate loops based on user input.

• Nested loops allow complex iteration over multiple variables.

• Augmented assignment operators simplify updating variables in loops.

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