while loop - sentinel value
After working through this lesson, you’ll be able to
- Write Python code using a while loop with a sentinel value.
Using a while loop, ask the user for the minutes of their bus/car ride 3 times. Print the sum of these numbers
intro.py
x = 3
sum = 0
while x > 0:
ride = int(input("How long? "))
sum = sum + ride
print("Sum:",sum)
Previously, you learned how to write loops that read and process a sequence of values. Today you will learn about while loops with sentinel values. A sentinel value denotes the end of a data set, but it is not part of the data. A loop that uses a sentinel value is called a sentinel-controlled loop.
| |
1 <variable = input> | Ask the user for a value |
2 while <condition>: | while loop executes while condition is True |
3 <do something> | do something inside the while loop |
4 <variable = input> | Ask the user for a value again |
5 <do something> | (optional) do something outside the while loop |
Use a variable named data to store the input value.
Don't use a float for equality checking in the condition because the values are approximated;.
Using a while loop, ask the user how long their bus ride was this month until they enter 0. Print the sum of these numbers.
Steps:
- Initialize a variable sum to 0.
- Ask "How long? (enter 0 to end): “
- Create a condition that will execute until the user enters 0.
- Sum the inputs
- Print the sum after the user enters 0.
example1.py
sum = 0
data = int(input("How long? (enter 0 to end) "))
while data != 0:
sum = sum + data
data = int(input("How long? (enter 0 to end) "))
print("Sum:",sum)
The input value 0 is the sentinel value for these loops.
Using a while loop, ask the user for the length of their bus/car ride until the user enters 0. Print the average of these numbers.
Initialize a counter variable to 0. Every time a number is entered, increment the variable.
example2.py
sum = 0
x = 0
data = int(input("How long? (enter 0 to end) "))
while data != 0:
sum = sum + data
x = x + 1
data = int(input("How long? (enter 0 to end) "))
average = sum / x
print("Average:",average)
Using a while loop, ask the user for the length of their bus/car ride until the user enters 0. Print the maximum of these numbers. Initialize max to the value of the first input.
example3.py
sum = 0
x = 0
data = int(input("How long? (enter 0 to end) "))
while data != 0:
if x == 0:
max = data
else:
if data > max:
max = data
x = x + 1
data = int(input("How long? (enter 0 to end) "))
print("Max:",max)
Using a while loop, ask the user to enter numbers until they enter 0. Print the total number of even numbers.
example4.py
evens = 0
data = int(input("Give me a number (enter 0 to end): "))
while data != 0
if data % 2 == 0:
evens = evens + 1
data = int(input("Give me a number (enter 0 to end): "))
print("Evens:",evens)
- What is an example of when you would use a while loop that does not have a fixed number of inputs?
- Explain the role of the sentinel variable.
Last modified 4yr ago