Four-in-a-row challenge!

Posted on May 21, 2018 by Administrator Posted in Computer Science, Python - Advanced, Python Challenges, Solved Challenges

In this blog post you will use Python Code to complete this simulation of the game of connect 4. (Rules of the game)

You will first need to reverse-engineer the code provided. The code so far is used to:

Display the 6×7 grid using Python Turtle.
Randomly place tokens on the gird, taking turns (yellow and red).
Refresh the grid on the screen using the drawGrid() function.

The code provided uses a variable called connect4, use to store a two-dimensional array (6×7) of integer values. In Python, a 2D-array is a list of lists. Within this array, a 0 represents an empty place, a 1 represents a yellow token and a 2 represents a red token.

Your Task:

Complete the checkIfWinner() function (from line 39) to check if after placing the token the game continues or if the player has aligned 4 tokens either in a row, column or diagonal. If so the function will return the color value of the winner (1 for Yellow, 2 for Red, 0 if no winner)

Solution...

The solution for this challenge is available to full members!
Find out how to become a member:
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Tagged with: 2D Array

Langton’s Ant

Posted on May 17, 2018 by Administrator Posted in Computer Science, Python - Advanced, Python Challenges

Langton’s Ant is a cellular automaton that models an ant moving on a grid of cells following some very basic rules.

At the start of the simulation, the ant is randomly positioned on a 2D-grid of white cells. The ant is also given a direction (either facing up, down, left or right).

The ant then moves according to the colour of the cell it is currently sitting in, with the following rules:

If the cell is white, it changes to black and the ant turns right 90°.
If the cell is black, it changes to white and the ant turns left 90°.
The ant then moves forward to the next cell, and repeat from step 1.

These simple rules lead to complex behaviours. Three distinct modes of behaviour are apparent, when starting on a completely white grid:

Simplicity: During the first few hundred moves it creates very simple patterns which are often symmetric.
Chaos: After a few hundred moves, a big, irregular pattern of black and white squares appears. The ant traces a pseudo-random path until around 10,000 steps.
Emergent order: Finally the ant starts building a recurrent “highway” pattern of 104 steps that repeats indefinitely.

All finite initial configurations tested eventually converge to the same repetitive pattern, suggesting that the “highway” is an attractor of Langton’s ant, but no one has been able to prove that this is true for all such initial configurations.

Source: wikipedia

Python Code (Using Python Turtle)

Below is our implementation of Langton’s Ant model using Python Turtle. Note that, on a fixed-size 2D grid, we have had to add one rule to the model:

On a fixed-size 2D-grid, the simulation stops when the ant reaches the edge of the grid.

Your Task

You can complete this code by adding multiple ants to this model or by starting with a random grid of black and white cells instead of an an empty grid of white cells only.

A more complex extension to this challenge is to add multiple colours to the model (not just black and white cells). See examples on this page.

Number Sequence – Finding the nth Term

Posted on May 14, 2018 by Administrator Posted in Computer Science, Python - Intermediate, Python Challenges

Can you complete the following number sequences?

Number Sequence #1:
Number Sequence #2:
Number Sequence #3:

Number Sequences

There are different types of number sequences. Let’s investigate the most widely used types of number sequences.
You may want to read this page first: https://www.mathsisfun.com/numberpatterns.html

Arithmetic Sequences

An Arithmetic Sequence is made by adding the same value each time. When creating an arithmetic number sequence you have to decide of a starting number (e.g. “2”) and an increment (e.g. “3”)

Geometric Sequences

A Geometric Sequence is made by multiplying by the same value each time.
When creating a geometric number sequence you have to decide of a starting number (e.g. “2”) and a multiplier (e.g. “3”)

Square Numbers

1,4,9,16,25,36…
This sequence consists of calculating the squares of whole numbers.

Incremental Sequence

1, 2, 4, 7, 11, 16, 22, 29, 37, …
This sequence is generated by adding an “increasing” number, that is a number that each time is incremented by 1 as we progress through the number sequence. Not clear? Check the diagram below.

Fibonacci Numbers

1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, …
The Fibonacci Sequence is found by adding the two numbers before it together.

The 3 is found by adding the two numbers before it (1+2)
The 5 is found by adding the two numbers before it (2+3)
The 8 is found by adding the two numbers before it (3+5)
…

Python Challenge

In this challenge, we are writing a Python script to help us find the n^th term of a number sequence.

Arithmetic Sequence

We have completed the Python code to find out the n^th term of an arithmetic number sequence:

Your challenge is to tweak this code to help find out the n^th term of any:

Geometric Sequence
Square Number Sequence
Incremental Sequence
Fibonacci Numbers Sequence

Original Price Calculator

Posted on May 14, 2018 by Administrator Posted in Computer Science, Python - Beginner, Python Challenges, Solved Challenges

Shopping during the sales can sometimes be very confusing. With discounted prices at 10%, 20%, 50% or even 70%!

For this challenge you are going to write a Python script that prompts the user to enter a discounted price in pounds (or in your own currency) (e.g. £90) and the discount rate that this price benefits from (e.g. 25%).

Your program will then calculate and display the original price (price before discount) of the item (e.g. £120).

Flowchart

Your program will consist of 3 key sections: Input > Process > Output

The flowchart of your program is as follows:

Python Code

Your task is to complete the following Python code:

Testing

You can now use your code to complete the following test plan:

Test #	Input Values	Expected Output	Actual Output
#1	Discounted Price: £90 Discount Rate: 25%	Original Price: £120
#2	Discounted Price: £45 Discount Rate: 40%	Original Price: £75
#3	Discounted Price: £210 Discount Rate: 30%	Original Price: £300

Solution...

The solution for this challenge is available to full members!
Find out how to become a member:
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Tagged with: Flowchart

Python Turtle – Protractor Challenge

Posted on April 6, 2018 by Administrator Posted in Computer Science, Python - Beginner, Python Challenges, Solved Challenges

Python Turtle? Let’s Recap!

Looking at the following code can you explain the purpose of each Python Turtle instructions:

turtle.color(“red”)
turtle.forward(100)
turtle.right(90)
turtle.left(45)
turtle.penup()
turtle.pendown()
turtle.goto(0,0)
turtle.circle(50)
turtle.setHeading(45)

(X,Y) Coordinates?

The canvas we are drawing on (using Python Turtle) is 400 pixels wide by 400 pixels high.
Look at the canvas below to understand how (x,y) coordinates work:

Protractor Challenge:

A protractor is an instrument used in Maths when measuring or drawing angles.

Our challenge is to use Python to draw a protractor on screen, using all the graduations for a scale going from 0° to 180°.

To do so we will use an iterative algorithm based on the following flowchart:

Your task consists of using Python code to implement this flowchart using Python Turtle.

Extension Task #1

Improve the drawing of your protractor further by:

adding labels (e.g. 0°, 10°, etc.) next to each graduation,
adding smaller graduations (e.g. 5°, 15°, 25° etc. graduations).

Extension Task #2

Use a similar approach to draw an analogue clock using Python Turtle.

Solution...

The solution for this challenge is available to full members!
Find out how to become a member:
➤ Members' Area

Tagged with: Flowchart, Python Turtle

Area Calculator Flowchart Challenge

Posted on March 26, 2018 by Administrator Posted in Computer Science, Python - Beginner, Python Challenges, Solved Challenges

In this challenge you will design an algorithm to calculate the area of various shapes as listed below:

Shape	Name	Area
	Square	width²
	Rectangle	width x length
	Circle	pi x radius²
	Triangle	base x height / 2

Your algorithm should:

Ask the user which of the above four shapes they would like to calculate the area of,
Based on the chosen shape, your algorithm should ask the end user to enter the required dimensions (e.g. width, or width and length or radius or base and height),
Calculate and display the area of the chosen shape.

Flowchart Challenge

Use our flowchart desing tool to create the flowchart of your algorithm.

Online Flowchart Creator

Python Challenge

Once you have completed your flowchart, you can implement this algorithm using Python code.

Test Plan

Test #	Input Values	Expected Output	Actual Output
#1	Square Width: 5	Area: 25
#2	Rectangle Width: 4 Length: 6	Area: 24
#3	Circle Radius: 10	Area: 314.159
#4	Triangle Base: 7 Height: 4	Area: 14

Extension Task

Complete your algorithm to cater for additional shapes including parallelograms, rhombus and hexagons.

Solution...

The solution for this challenge is available to full members!
Find out how to become a member:
➤ Members' Area

Tagged with: Flowchart

Min, Max, Mean, Median and Mod – Flowcharts

Posted on March 20, 2018 by Administrator Posted in Computer Science, Computing Concepts, Python - Intermediate, Python Challenges, Solved Challenges

In this challenge we will design algorithms used to calculate the Min, Max, Mean, Median and Mod from a list of numbers.

First you may want to refresh your maths skills and check the meaning of these terms: http://www.purplemath.com/modules/meanmode.htm

MIN Flowchart

Challenge #1

Use our flowchart designer tool to create 4 more flowcharts to:

Calculate the Max value of a given list,
Calculate the Mean value of a given list,
Calculate the Median value of a given list,
Calculate the Mod value of a given list.

Online Flowchart Creator

Challenge #2

Now that you have designed your algorithms you can implement these using Python code.

Solution...

The solution for this challenge is available to full members!
Find out how to become a member:
➤ Members' Area

Tagged with: Flowchart

Fizz-Buzz Game Algorithm

Posted on March 19, 2018 by Administrator Posted in Computer Science, Python - Intermediate, Python Challenges, Solved Challenges

Fizz-Buzz is a group word game for children to teach them about division. Players take turns to count incrementally, replacing any multiple of three with the word “fizz”, and any multiple of five with the word “buzz”.

Fizz-Buzz Challenge

For this challenge you need to write a computer program that will display all the numbers between 1 and 100.

For each number divisible by three the computer will display the word “fizz”,
For each number divisible by five the computer will display the word “buzz”,
For each number divisible by three and by five the computer will display the word “fizz-buzz”,

This is what the output will look like:

Fizz-Buzz Algorithm

Check the following flowchart used to generate the first 100 numbers using the Fizz-Buzz rules. (Click on the flowchart to enlarge it).

Python Challenge

Use the above flowchart to complete this Python code.

Extension Task #1

Tweak this code to use the input command in Python. The program should ask the user to input numbers in order or type the word Fizz or Buzz when required. The program should check that the user has typed the right number or the right word and stop if not. It should then give the final score (How far the player completed the game).

Extension Task #2

Improve this code further to give the players three lives. The player can make up to 3 mistakes. Each time they make a mistake they lose 10 points but carry on playing till they lose their three lives.

Solution...

The solution for this challenge is available to full members!
Find out how to become a member:
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Finding the factors of…

Posted on March 19, 2018 by Administrator Posted in Computer Science, Python - Intermediate, Python Challenges, Solved Challenges

For this challenge you will use an algorithm to find all the factors of a given number.

Factors are numbers we can multiply together to get another number. For instance, factors of 15 are 1, 3, 5 and 15, because 1×15=15 and 3×5 = 15.

Your algorithm will be based on the INPUT – PROCESS – OUTPUT model:

INPUT: Ask the user to enter a number,
PROCESS: Identify all the factors of this number,
OUTPUT: Display all the factors of this number.

Flowchart

Task 1: Python Code

Your task is to implement your algorithm using Python code.

Task 2: Test Plan

Test #	Type of Test	Input Values	Expected Output	Actual Output
#1	Valid	12	1,2,3,4,6,12
#2	Valid	21	1,3,7,21
#3	Valid	48	1,2,3,4,6,8,12,16,24,48
#4	Valid	13	1,13

Task 3: Extension Task: Prime Number?

A prime number is a number that has exactly two factors (1 and itself). Which means that a prime number can be divided evenly only by 1, or itself. A prime number must be a whole number greater than 1.

How could you tweak this code to detect if a number is a prime number or not. If a number is a prime number your algorithm should display a message saying so.

Task 4: Extension Task: Simplifying a Fraction

Complete the following two challenges:

Solution...

The solution for this challenge is available to full members!
Find out how to become a member:
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Bidding Process – Flowchart

Posted on March 16, 2018 by Administrator Posted in Computer Science, Python - Intermediate, Python Challenges, Solved Challenges

For this challenge we will consider the bidding process used within online auction websites such as eBay.

Our aim is to create a system that will accept bids from the end-user, check if the bid being placed is greater than the current bid and if so, update the value of the current bid.

Here is the flowchart for our Bidding System: (Click on this flowchart to open in new window)

Making Predictions

Check the above flowchart to understand how this algorithm will work. Based on this flowchart can you answer the following questions?

What will be the first question asked to the end user?

How does this algorithm decide if a bid is a valid bid or not?

How does this algorithm decide when the bidding process ends?

What will be the last message displayed to the end-user?

Python Challenge

Your challenge is to use Python code to implement this algorithm.

Extension Task

Check the following two blog posts to see how this code could be improved further by adding validation routines when capturing user inputs. Use these techniques to make your bidding system more robust:

Solution...

The solution for this challenge is available to full members!
Find out how to become a member:
➤ Members' Area

Tagged with: Flowchart

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Python Code (Using Python Turtle)

Your Task

Number Sequences

Arithmetic Sequences

Geometric Sequences

Square Numbers

Incremental Sequence

Fibonacci Numbers

Python Challenge

Arithmetic Sequence

Flowchart

Python Code

Testing

Solution...

Python Turtle? Let’s Recap!

(X,Y) Coordinates?

Protractor Challenge:

Extension Task #1

Extension Task #2

Solution...

Flowchart Challenge

Python Challenge

Test Plan

Extension Task

Solution...

MIN Flowchart

Challenge #1

Challenge #2

Solution...

Fizz-Buzz Challenge

Fizz-Buzz Algorithm

Python Challenge

Extension Task #1

Extension Task #2

Solution...

Flowchart

Task 1: Python Code

Task 2: Test Plan

Task 3: Extension Task: Prime Number?

Task 4: Extension Task: Simplifying a Fraction

Solution...

Making Predictions

Python Challenge

Extension Task

Solution...

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