Scribd
Upload
21 views

4-1-while-loops

This document introduces 'while' loops in programming, explaining their structure and usage through examples and quizzes. It emphasizes the importance of initializing, testing, and incrementing counters within loops, as well as varying the statements executed. Additionally, it discusses teaching issues related to loops and compares Python loops with those in Scratch.

Uploaded by

mark.balatbat
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
21 views

4-1-while-loops

This document introduces 'while' loops in programming, explaining their structure and usage through examples and quizzes. It emphasizes the importance of initializing, testing, and incrementing counters within loops, as well as varying the statements executed. Additionally, it discusses teaching issues related to loops and compares Python loops with those in Scratch.

Uploaded by

mark.balatbat
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 24

T eaching L C

ondon omputing

Programming for
GCSE
Topic 4.1: While
Loops

William Marsh
School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science
Queen Mary University of London
Aims

• Introduce the 'while' loop


• Consider the sequence of ideas
• Repeat a statement, a fixed number of
times
• Repeat with variation, a fixed number of
times
• Repeat until you succeed, varying number
of times
WHILE LOOPS
Simple ‘While’ Statement

• Execute statements repeatedly

counter = 1
while counter <= 5:
print("Inside the loop")
counter = counter + 1
Key
word Conditio
n :
indentatio
n
Boxes

• A ’while’ statement has an inside

while condition A:
Renter the box while 'A’ is true
Using a Counter

• Initialise, test, increment


initialise

counter = 1 test
while counter <= 5:
print("Inside the loop")
counter = counter + 1

increment
Quiz: Counter Values

• What is the sequence of counter


values?
counter = 1
while counter <= 5:
print("Inside the loop")
counter = counter + 1
Quiz: Counter Values
counter = 1
while counter <= 5:
print("Inside the loop")
counter = counter + 1
Counter Print
1 "Inside the loop"
2 "Inside the loop"
3 "Inside the loop"
4 "Inside the loop"
5 "Inside the loop"
6 -
Quiz: Counter Values

• How many lines printed?

counter = 7
while counter <= 15:
print("Inside the loop")
counter = counter + 2
Quiz: Counter Values
counter = 7
while counter <= 15:
print("Inside the loop")
counter = counter + 2
Counter Print
7 "Inside the loop"
9 "Inside the loop"
11 "Inside the loop"
13 "Inside the loop"
15 "Inside the loop"
17 -
Varying the Code
Repeated
• Previously, same code repeated
• Use counter to make it vary

counter = 1
while counter < 6:
print(”The counter is”, counter)
counter = counter + 1
Varying the Code
Repeated
counter = 1
while counter < 6:
print(”The counter is”, counter)
counter = counter + 1
Counter Print
1 The counter is 1
2 The counter is 2
3 The counter is 3
4 The counter is 4
5 The counter is 5
6 -
Varying the Code
Repeated
cntr = 1
while cntr < 6:
if cntr % 2 == 0 :
print(”The counter is”, cntr)
cntr = cntr + 1
Counter Print
1
2 The counter is 2
3
4 The counter is 4
5
6 -
Order Matters
• These two programs differ
• Can you explain how?

counter = 1
while counter < 6:
print(”The counter is”, counter)
counter = counter + 1

counter = 1
while counter < 6:
counter = counter + 1
print(”The counter is”, counter)
Errors

• This program looks similar but it does


not work
• Can you see why?

cntr = 1
while cntr < 6:
if cntr % 2 == 0 :
print(”The counter is”, cntr)
cntr = cntr + 1
Counter Loops –
Summary
• Counter
• Initialise it
• Test it
• Change it
• The counter has a sequence of values
in the loop body
• The counter value can be used to vary
the statement executed each time
through the loop
COMPARISONS
Loops in Scratch
• Scratch has 4 loops
Loop without end

Loop fixed
number of
time
Conditi
on
Loop while condition true

Conditi
on
Loop until condition true
’While’ Language
• Many instructions have ‘loop’ language

Put the butter, sugar, fruit,


zests, juice and 100ml/3½fl oz
brandy in a large pan. Bring
slowly to the boil, stirring until
the butter has melted. Reduce
the heat and bubble for 10
minutes, stirring occasionally.
while not (butter melted) :
stir
pause
WHILE WITH
CONDITION
Not all loops have counters
Loop with a Condition
• The number of iterations can vary

needAnswer = True
while needAnswer :
ans = input(”Answer Yes or No! ")
if ans == “Yes” or ans == “No”:
needAnswer = False
Answer Yes or No! Not sure
Answer Yes or No! Ok
Answer Yes or No! Will do
Answer Yes or No! I said alright
Answer Yes or No! Yes
Childhood Classic

print(“I can spell Mississippi”)


goes = 0
ans = -1
while ans != 0 :
ans = int(input(”How many ‘s’ in it?”))
goes = goes + 1

print(“You answered in”, goes, “goes”)


TEACHING ISSUES
Teaching Issue
• How many stages for loops
• Counter: repeating the same statement
• Counter: varying the statement
• Vary number of iterations

• Python has other loops (like Scratch)


• Are they needed?

• Loops are the most complex aspect of


programming

You might also like