Question

Assign the value 7 to the variable guess_me, and the value 1 to the variable number. Write a while loop that compares number with guess_me. Print 'too low' if number is less than guess me. If number equals guess_me, print 'found it!' and then exit the loop. If number is greater than guess_me, print 'oops' and then exit the loop. Increment number at the end of the loop.

Short answer

Initialize variables and use a while loop to compare, print messages, and increment until the guess is found.

Step-by-step solution

Initialize Variables

Assign the value 7 to the variable guess_me and the value 1 to the variable number. This sets up the initial state for the loop.

Set Up the While Loop

Use a while loop with the condition that always evaluates to True. This loop will keep executing until we manually break out of it.

Compare Numbers

Inside the loop, start by comparing the value of number with guess_me. First, check if number is less than guess_me.

Print 'Too Low'

If the number is less than guess_me, print 'too low'. This informs the user that the guess is not correct and that number needs to be increased still.

Check for Equality

Next, check if number equals guess_me. This means we have found the number we are looking for.

Print 'Found it!' and Exit

If number equals guess_me, print 'found it!' and use the break statement to exit the loop. This signals success.

Check If Number is Greater

Finally, check if number is greater than guess_me. This scenario means a mistake happened, as number should not surpass guess_me.

Print 'Oops' and Exit

If number is greater than guess_me, print 'oops' and break out of the loop. This detects cases where the loop went beyond what's expected by comparison logic.

Increment Number

At the end of the loop's body but before its next iteration, increment the value of number by 1. This ensures the loop progresses through consecutive numbers.

Key concepts

Variable Assignment

In Python, a variable is like a container that holds data values. You can think of it as a way to label and access data stored in memory. To assign a value to a variable in Python, you simply use the equal sign ( = ).
For example, if you want to create a variable called `number` and give it a value of 1, you would write: `number = 1`. This means that every time you reference `number`, Python knows you're talking about the integer value 1.

Assigning values using variables makes programs flexible and dynamic. You can change the variable's value as needed without altering the code that uses the variable. In the given exercise, assigning 7 to `guess_me` and 1 to `number` initializes these variables for later use in the loop. This initial setup is crucial for accurately comparing values later.

Conditional Statements

Conditional statements in Python control the flow of code depending on conditions, which are expressions that evaluate to `True` or `False`. The most common conditional statements are `if`, `elif`, and `else`.
Here's a simple breakdown:

• If: This statement checks whether a specific condition is `True`. If it is, the block of code under the `if` statement executes. For example: `if number < guess_me: print('too low')` is checked first in our exercise.
• Elif: Short for 'else if', it allows you to check multiple expressions for `True` and execute a block of code as soon as one of the conditions is `True`. In the exercise, `elif number == guess_me:` checks for equality after the first `if` fails.
• Else: This statement handles all conditions not covered by `if` or `elif`. It doesn’t require a condition as it only runs when all previous statements are `False`. For instance, in the loop, we could have used `else` to indicate when `number` surpasses `guess_me` to print 'oops'.

Conditional statements allow programs to make decisions and take different actions based on varying scenarios, making your code resilient and adaptable.

Break Statement

The `break` statement is a powerful tool used to exit a loop prematurely. When Python encounters a `break` statement inside a loop, it stops the loop entirely and moves to the next line of code that follows the loop.
In our while loop exercise, the `break` is used to exit once the correct number has been guessed, or when an error condition occurs (if the number is greater than `guess_me`). This is crucial because without `break`, our loop would continue forever, or at least until the program crashes.

Some key notes to remember about `break`:

• It's often used inside an `if` statement, as it triggers the end of the loop based on a specific condition being met.
• In nested loops, `break` will only exit the loop in which it resides, not any outer loops.
• Using `break` makes code efficient by halting unnecessary loops and saving computational resources.

Understanding when and how to use `break` is essential for control flow and avoiding infinite loops.

Incrementing Values

Incrementing means increasing the value of a variable, usually by a set amount, often by 1. It's a common pattern in loops to progress or move through a sequence.
In Python, you can increment a variable by using the `+=` operator. For instance, `number += 1` increases `number` by one each time the loop runs through its iteration.

Why do you need to increment? Here's why:

• Loop Control: Incrementing inside a loop controls how long the loop runs. Without it, if your condition depends on the variable, the loop may run infinitely.
• Progression: Helps move from one step to another, processing data items one at a time.
• Comparison Adjustment: When a loop checks for conditions like less than or equal to (`<` or `==`), incrementing moves the value towards satisfying or changing the condition.

In our exercise, incrementing `number` is the last action in the loop, allowing for the next comparison with `guess_me` for decision-making. Properly incrementing values ensures loops execute correctly and conclude as intended.