Python 3.2.1.14 LAB: Essentials of the while loop

 3.2.1.14 LAB: Essentials of the while loop

while loop

If you're taking PCAP - Programming Essentials In Python , you may have encountered this question 3.2.1.14 LAB: Essentials of the while loop.

Objectives

Familiarize the student with:

• using the while loop;
• finding the proper implementation of verbally defined rules;
• reflecting real-life situations in computer code.

Scenario

Listen to this story: a boy and his father, a computer programmer, are playing with wooden blocks. They are building a pyramid.

Their pyramid is a bit weird, as it is actually a pyramid-shaped wall - it's flat. The pyramid is stacked according to one simple principle: 

👉 each lower layer contains one block more than the layer above 👈.

The figure illustrates the rule used by the builders:

Your task is to write a program which reads the number of blocks the builders have, and outputs the height of the pyramid that can be built using these blocks.

Note: the height is measured by the number of fully completed layers - if the builders don't have a sufficient number of blocks and cannot complete the next layer, they finish their work immediately.

Test your code using the data we've provided.

Test Data

Sample input: 6

Expected output: The height of the pyramid: 3

Sample input: 20

Expected output: The height of the pyramid: 5

Sample input: 1000

Expected output: The height of the pyramid: 44

Sample input: 2

Expected output: The height of the pyramid: 1

Solution Code

Solution #1

blocks = int(input("Enter the blocks : "))
height = 0
layers = 1
while layers <= blocks:
    height += 1
    blocks -= layers
    layers += 1
print("The height of the pyramid: ", height)

Solution #2

blocks = int(input("Enter number of blocks: "))
print(f'You can build a pyramid {int(0.5 * ((8 * blocks + 1)**0.5 - 1))} blocks high')
# This is how a pyramid formula is done

Solution #3

blocks = int(input("Enter number of blocks: "))

for n in range(blocks):
    if n*(n+1)/2 <= blocks: # This is how a pyramid formula is done
        height = n

print("The height of the pyramid is:", height)

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