Question

Rewrite the following code so it calls the range function instead of using the list \\[ \begin{array}{l} {[0,1,2,3,4,5]} \\ \text { for } x \text { in }[0,1,2,3,4,5]: \end{array} \\] print ('I love to program!')

Short answer

Answer: To replace the given list with the range function, you can use `range(6)` in the loop. The rewritten code should look like this: ``` for x in range(6): print('I love to program!') ```

Step-by-step solution

Identify the list

The given list in the code is: [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Replace the list with the range function

Use the range() function to generate a sequence of numbers from 0 to 5. The range function syntax is range(start, end, step), where end is exclusive. Since we want the same numbers as in the list, use range(0, 6) or simply range(6) as the step and start values are default to 1 and 0 respectively.

Rewrite the code with the range function

Replace the list with the range function in the code: ``` for x in range(6): print('I love to program!') ``` Now, when you run this rewritten code, it will produce the same output as the original code did.

Key concepts

Python for loop

A fundamental concept in Python programming basics is the for loop, an iteration statement which enables you to execute a block of code repeatedly, a set number of times. To illustrate a for loop in Python, consider the following example:

for x in range(6): print('I love to program!')

In this snippet, the for loop is used alongside the range function to repeat an action – in this case, printing the statement 'I love to program!' – six times. The loop iterates over a sequence of numbers generated by the range function, assigning each number to the variable 'x', which can then be used within the loop. The simplicity of Python's for loop syntax makes it highly readable and easy for students to understand and use in their own code.

Python lists

Moving to another core concept, Python lists are ordered collections that can hold a variety of object types. Lists are versatile and can be used to store and manage numerous items such as numbers, strings, or even other lists.

For example:
my_list = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

This list contains integers from 0 to 5, and you could iterate over this list using a for loop as well. However, if you are only interested in creating a sequence of numbers for iteration, the more memory-efficient method would be using the range function. Lists are mutable, meaning you can change their content without changing their identity. They are one of the most commonly used data structures in Python because of their flexibility and functionality.

Python programming basics

Understanding the Python programming basics is crucial for building a strong foundation in coding. These basics include knowledge of data structures like lists and tuples, control flow statements such as if, for and while, and the use of functions to perform tasks. In the original exercise, we come across the range function, which generates a sequence of numbers and is often used in for loops to iterate over a sequence.

The exercise also presents an opportunity to discuss how the range function can replace a list when you need to iterate over a sequence of numbers, resulting in more efficient code. The steps provided in the solution walk through identifying a list, replacing it with a range function, and rewriting the code accordingly. This practice emphasizes the importance of understanding different methods to achieve the same result and the significance of code efficiency and readability in Python programming.