All Stars Football Team

Posted on March 10, 2015 by Administrator Posted in Computer Science, Python - Intermediate, Python Challenges

In this challenge we are looking at how a list can be used to store all the players’ names of a football team.

Using a set of functions we then manipulate this list to:

Find a value in a list and change it to something else. We use this to perform a substitution: replace a player with another player.

Find a value in a list and remove it from the list. We will use this to issue a red card and hence remove a player from the team.

When using our functions we will pass some parameters such as the name of the players we want to substitute or the name of the player receiving a red card.

To make the code easier to follow we created a football.py file that contains three functions:

displaySquad()
substituePlayer()
redCard()

Our main program first initialises the team as a list of 11 players called allStars.

Then we use the substituePlayer function and redCard function to change the composition of the team.

Finally we use the displaySquad function to display the full team at the end of the game.

Check the code

Your Challenge

Tweak this code to change the composition of the allStars team using your favourite selection of 11 players.

Perform some substitutions and issue a few red cards to see how it will affect your team.

Tagged with: Function, List, Procedure, Python, subroutine

Download Python

Posted on March 8, 2015 by Administrator Posted in Computer Science, Free Downloads, Python Challenges

Before installing Python check our recommendations at the bottom of this page!

Ready to complete some of these Python challenges at home? Then you will need to download Python 3 which is completely free to download: https://www.python.org/downloads/.

We also recommend you to install a Python IDE such as PyScripter which is also free to download: https://code.google.com/p/pyscripter/. It makes coding and debugging a lot easier.

Our Recommendations

To avoid any incompatibility issues, for Windows users we recommend you to install the following versions of Python, PyScripter and Pygame:

Python	version 3.9	Download (Source: https://www.python.org/downloads/windows/	More recent versions may not be fully compatible with our recommended versions PyScripter / Pygame
PyScripter	Version 2.6	https://sourceforge.net/projects/pyscripter/
Pygame	version 1.9.2a0 for Windows 32 bit – Python 3.3	Download (Source: https://bitbucket.org/pygame/pygame/downloads)

Should you not have the above versions, we would recommend uninstalling Python / PyScripter and Pygame to install the recommended versions instead.

Python Online

Should you decide not to install Python on your computer, you can still use online coding environments such as Trinket.io or CodingGround:

Tagged with: download, installation, pigame, PyScripter, Python

Lottery Numbers

Posted on March 4, 2015 by Administrator Posted in Computer Science, Python - Intermediate, Python Challenges, Solved Challenges

In this challenge we are going to write a Python program that automatically generates six random numbers (from 1 to 50) and display them on the screen, sorted in ascending order.

The program will need to make sure that each number is unique; the same number cannot come twice in the selection of six selected numbers.

Learning Objectives

By completing this code, you will understand the difference between the two types of loops used in Python:

For Loops (Count-Controlled Loops): A count-controlled loop is one that is executed a certain number of times. In our example, because we know that we need exactly six numbers we are going to use a for loop to repeat (iterate through) some of our code exactly six times.
While Loops (Condition-Controlled Loops): A condition-controlled loop such as a While loop keeps going while a certain condition is true. As soon as the condition becomes false, the loop stops iterating. In our case, when generating a random number, we are going the check that the new number has not already been picked up. If it has then we are going to generate a new one and will carry on doing so till we get a number that has not already been picked up.

Check the code

Your Challenge

Complete this code to store your own selection of six numbers. For testing purposes, you can store these numbers directly into the code and display these to the end-user. Alternatively you can ask the end-user to type six numbers.
Then your code will use the program given above to generate the six lottery numbers.
Finally your code will check and inform the end-user of how many numbers the user guessed correctly by comparing the user’s six numbers with the six randomly generated lottery numbers!

Note

The probability of guessing several lottery numbers is very low. You may want to tweak your program to only pick up numbers between 1 and 20 (instead of 50). This will give you a better chance to guess some of these numbers and hence test whether your code is working.

Video Tutorial

Solution...

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

Tagged with: iteration, List, Python Challenge

Python Basics

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Administrator Posted in Computer Science, Python - Beginner, Python Challenges

Check the following Python instructions. These are all you need to know to start creating your first Python scripts!

You can also check our more advanced Python Helpsheet:

Tagged with: iteration, Python, Selection

Blackjack Challenge

Posted on February 23, 2015 by Administrator Posted in Computer Science, Python - Advanced, Python Challenges, Solved Challenges

In this challenge you are going to create a blackjack game for one player. The computer will be the dealer.

Rules of the game

Source: wikipedia.

“Blackjack, also known as twenty-one, is the most widely played casino banking game in the world. Blackjack is a comparing card game between a player and dealer, meaning that players compete against the dealer but not against any other players. It is played with one or more decks of 52 cards. The object of the game is to beat the dealer, which can be done in a number of ways:

Get 21 points on the player’s first two cards (called a blackjack), without a dealer blackjack;

Reach a final score higher than the dealer without exceeding 21; or

Let the dealer draw additional cards until his or her hand exceeds 21.

The player or players are dealt an initial two-card hand and add together the value of their cards. Face cards (kings, queens, and jacks) are counted as ten points. A player and the dealer can count his or her own ace as 1 point or 11 points. All other cards are counted as the numeric value shown on the card. After receiving their initial two cards, players have the option of getting a “hit”, or taking an additional card. In a given round, the player or the dealer wins by having a score of 21 or by having the highest score that is less than 21. Scoring higher than 21 (called “busting” or “going bust”) results in a loss. A player may win by having any final score equal to or less than 21 if the dealer busts. If a player holds an ace valued as 11, the hand is called “soft”, meaning that the player cannot go bust by taking an additional card; 11 plus the value of any other card will always be less than or equal to 21. Otherwise, the hand is “hard”.

The dealer has to take hits until his or her cards total 17 or more points. (In some casinos the dealer also hits on a “soft” 17, e.g. an initial ace and six.) Players win if they do not bust and have a total that is higher than the dealer’s. The dealer loses if he or she busts or has a lesser hand than the player who has not busted. If the player and dealer have the same total, this is called a “push” and the player typically does not win or lose money on that hand.”

Final Product

You can check this game online.

Your Challenge

Your challenge is to recreate this game for one player only using your chosen programming language (e.g. Python, JavaScript…). The end-user will play against the computer (the dealer).

To start with you may want to create this game using a text-based interface. Cards could be displayed as follows:

♠ As (Ace of spade), 2s, 3s, … 9s, 10s, Js, Qs, Ks
♥ Ah (Ace of heart), 2h, 3h, … 9h, 10h, Jh, Qh, Kh
♣ Ac (Ace of club), 2c, 3c, … 9c, 10c, Jc, Qc, Kc
♦ Ad (Ace of diamond), 2d, 3d, … 9d, 10d, Jd, Qd, Kd

You may also want to investigate unicode characters to display the selected cards in a more visual way.

Tips / Questions to get you started

Before getting started you may want to ask yourself the following questions?

What data structure could I use to create the deck of 52 cards?
Once I have stored all 52 cards in my data structure, how can I shuffle the cards?
What variables will I need to store the initial amount ($) the player has, the value of the bet ($), the total number of points of the dealer, the total number of points for the player?
Input: What information do I need to ask/retrieve from the end-user and when does the program need to ask for that information?
Output: What information do I need to display to the end-user during the game? (and when in the game?)
When or how does the game end?
How can I break up this project into smaller achievable steps? What would be the first few steps that I would then focus on?

Complete the Code…

Graphical User interface

Should you decide to create a full graphical user interface (e.g. as a webpage using HTML & JavaScript or as a Python program using graphical library such as PyGame) then you can download the graphics for each of the playing cards from wikimedia.

Solution...

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

Tagged with: iteration, List, Selection

Number Sequences

Posted on February 20, 2015 by Administrator Posted in Computer Science, Python - Intermediate, Python Challenges

Learning Objectives

In this challenge we are going to apply our programming skills to perform some arithmetic operations. We will use arithmetic operators such as +, – and * as well as for loops to repeat instructions.

Context / Starter activity

A primary teacher likes to start her maths lesson by displaying a number sequence maths challenge on the board. Here are the last three challenges she has used with her class. Can you solve these?

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 Code

Arithmetic Sequence

Triangular Numbers

Fibonacci Numbers

Challenge #1

Edit some of the above scripts to create other number sequences such as:

Arithmetic sequences using a different starting number and increment,
Geometric sequences,
Square numbers sequence.

You can also adapt or even mix these techniques to create your own number sequences!

Challenge #2

Adapt your scripts so that the program asks the end-user the question: “What number comes next in the sequence?” The user has to type their answer. The program should check if they have got the right answer or not.

The bear hunt

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Administrator Posted in Computer Science, Python - Beginner, Python Challenges

This challenge is inspired from Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury’s children book “We are going on a bear hunt”. In this story, a family skids down a grassy slope, swishes across a river, sludges through mud and finally sees a bear who chases them all the way back to their home.

This story is based on a repetitive verse where the same verse is repeated several times and each time only a few words are changed.

So let’s see how we could apply our programming skills to print the words or lyrics of a repetitive story or song.

Learning Objectives

In this post we will investigate how to use a subroutine do write code more efficiently. We will also pass parameters to our subroutine.

You will also use string concatenation techniques to join two strings together.

Investigate the code below. See how we have defined a subroutine called printVerse() and used two parameters for this subroutine: obstacle and onomatopoeia (a word that represents a sound: e.g. splosh).

Challenge #1

Using a similar approach write a piece of code to print the lyrics of the following song:

Five little speckled frogs
Sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs – yum, yum
One jumped into the pool
Where it was nice and cool
Now there are four green speckled frogs – glub, glub.

Four little speckled frogs
Sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs – yum, yum
One jumped into the pool
Where it was nice and cool
Now there are three green speckled frogs – glub, glub.

Three little speckled frogs
Sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs – yum, yum
One jumped into the pool
Where it was nice and cool
Now there are two green speckled frogs – glub, glub.

Two little speckled frogs
Sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs – yum, yum
One jumped into the pool
Where it was nice and cool
Now there are one green speckled frogs- glub, glub.

One little speckled frogs
Sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs – yum, yum
One jumped into the pool
Where it was nice and cool
Now there are no green speckled frogs – glub, glub.

Challenge #2

Using a similar approach write a piece of code to print the words of the “10 ladybugs” story by Melanie Gerth and Laura Huliska-Beith:

Ten little ladybugs sitting on a vine,
along came a butterfly – then there were…

Nine little ladybugs skipping on a gate,
along came a caterpillar – then there were…

Eight little ladybugs looking up at heaven,
along came a bird – then there were…

Seven little ladybugs resting on sticks,
along came a grasshopper – then there were…

Six little ladybugs flying near a hive,
along came a bumble bee – then there were…

Five little ladybugs sleeping by the shore,
along came a fish – then there were…

Four little ladybugs climbing up a tree,
along came a turtle – then there were…

Three little ladybugs drinking up dew,
along came a duck – then there were…

Two little ladybugs basking in the sun,
along came a frog – then there was…

One little ladybug sitting all alone,
along came a breeze – then she was HOME!

Tagged with: Procedure, Python, subroutine

Logic Gates Diagrams

Posted on February 15, 2015 by Administrator Posted in Computer Hardware, Computer Science, Computing Concepts, Physical Computing

Learning Objectives

In this post you will practise drawing logic gates diagrams using the following logic gates:

AND Gate
OR Gate
XOR Gate
NOT Gate

First you will need to learn the shapes/symbols used to draw the four main logic gates:

Symbol	Logic Gate

Logic Gate Diagrams

Your Task

Use our logic gates diagram tool to create the diagrams as follow: (Click on the following equations to draw their logic gates diagrams)

Logic Gates Diagram CreatorCreate your own logic gates diagram

Dry Run Testing & Trace Tables

Posted on February 15, 2015 by Administrator Posted in A Level Concepts, A Level Quiz, Algorithms, Algorithms (GCSE), Computer Science, Computing Concepts

Learning Objectives

You have just completed a piece of code but when you run it, it does not behave as expected.

One way to check and troubleshoot your code is to perform a dry run using a trace table.

Trace tables are used by programmers to track the values of variables as they change throughout the program. This is useful when a program is not producing the desired result.

Context / Starter activity

A primary teacher likes to start her maths lesson by displaying a number sequence maths challenge on the board. Here are the last three challenges she has used with her class. Can you solve these?

Number Sequence #1: number-sequence-2
Number Sequence #2: number-sequence-3 Number Sequence #3: number-sequence-1

The primary teacher decided to create some Python script to help them create similar number sequences.

Here is the pseudo-code for her first script:

number = 3
PRINT number
FOR  i  from 1 to 3:
      number = number + 5
      PRINT number
PRINT "?"

To make sure her script is working she decided to complete a dry run test using a trace table. See animation below:
trace-table-s

View the complete trace table.

Challenge #1

Step 1: Complete the trace table for the following script:

number = 5
PRINT number
FOR  i  from 1 to 3:
      number = number + i
      PRINT number
PRINT "?"

Step 2: Implement this code using a high level programming language (e.g. Python) and compare your trace table with your actual output of your program.

Challenge #2

Step 1: Complete the trace table for the following script:

number1 = 2
number2 = 5
PRINT number1
PRINT number2
FOR  i  from 1 to 4:
      number1 = number1 + number2
      PRINT number1
      number2 = number1
PRINT "?"

Step 2: Implement this code using a high level programming language (e.g. Python) and compare your trace table with your actual output of your program.

Challenge #3

Think of your own number sequences. Write the pseudo-code, the trace table and implement them using a high level programming language (e.g. Python).

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Rules of the game

Final Product

Your Challenge

Tips / Questions to get you started

Complete the Code…

Graphical User interface

Solution...

Learning Objectives

Context / Starter activity

Number Sequences

Arithmetic Sequences

Geometric Sequences

Square Numbers

Incremental Sequence

Fibonacci Numbers

Python Code

Arithmetic Sequence

Triangular Numbers

Fibonacci Numbers

Challenge #1

Challenge #2

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Challenge #1

Challenge #2

Learning Objectives

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Your Task

Learning Objectives

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Challenge #1

Challenge #2

Challenge #3

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