U4 | Iteration

4.1 while Loops

A while loop is a fundamental control structure in programming used for repeated execution of a block of code as long as a condition is true.
The loop starts by evaluating the condition. If the condition is true, the code inside the loop is executed.
After each iteration, the condition is re-evaluated, and if it’s still true, the loop continues. If the condition is false initially, the loop code is never executed.
While loops are used when you don’t know in advance how many times the loop needs to execute.
There’s a risk of infinite loops if the condition never becomes false, so be cautious. You can use variables and complex expressions as loop conditions.
It’s essential to update the loop control variable within the loop to prevent infinite loops.
While loops are typically used for tasks such as iterating over collections or waiting for a specific condition to be met.
You can always break out of a while loop prematurely using the break statement.

Example of While Loops

public class PyramidPattern {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int height = 5;
        int row = 1;

        while (row <= height) {
            int spaces = height - row;
            int stars = 2 * row - 1;

            // Print spaces
            int spaceCount = spaces;
            while (spaceCount > 0) {
                System.out.print(" ");
                spaceCount--;
            }

            // Print stars
            int starCount = stars;
            while (starCount > 0) {
                System.out.print("*");
                starCount--;
            }

            System.out.println(); // Move to the next line for the next row
            row++;
        }
    }
}

PyramidPattern.main(null)

    *
   ***
  *****
 *******
*********

4.2 for Loops

Iterative statement that checks for condition
Repeatedly execute a a block of code as long as the condition is met
Condition specifies amount of times

for Loops vs. while Loops

while Loops: use when number of iterations is unknown
for Loops: use when number of iterations is known

int i = 0;
while (i < 5) {
    System.out.println(i);
    i++;
}

for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
    System.out.println(i);
}

Three parts in for loop header: variable initialization, Boolean (conditional) expression, and increment/decrement statement

Question: Which part is which?

variable initialization (int i=0): sets variable before loop starts - variable initialization
Boolean (conditional) expression (i < 5): defines condition for loop to run, in this case, the loop continues as long as i is less than 5, so loops 5 times i 05 - Boolean (conditional) expression
increment/decrement statement (i++): increases variable each time code block in the loop is executed, in this case it increases by 1 - increment/decrement statement
variable can be used in the code block for other various reasons besides specifying how many times the loop will repeat
Boolean (conditional) expression and increment/decrement statement together determine how many times the loop will repeat

POPCORN HACKS

Calculate and print the sum of all even numbers from 1 to a given positive integer ‘n’ (user input n)

// Calculate and print the sum of all even numbers from 1 to a given positive integer ‘n’ (user input n)

public class SumOfEvenNumbers {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Scanner scan = new Scanner(System.in);
        System.out.print("Enter a positive integer: ");
        int n = scan.nextInt();
        int sum = 0;
        int i = 1;

        while (i <= n) {
            if (i % 2 == 0) {
                sum += i;
            }
            i++;
        }

        System.out.println("Sum of even numbers from 1 to " + n + " is " + sum);
    }
}

SumOfEvenNumbers.main(null)

Enter a positive integer: Sum of even numbers from 1 to 10 is 30

4.3 Developing Algorithms Using Strings

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: For algorithms in the context of a particular specification that involves String objects:

identify standard algorithms
modify standard algorithms
develop an algorithm

Java has many methods that are helpful when working with strings:

String .substring –> retrieves portion of a string
String .equals –> compares two strings
String .length –> returns length of a string
for Loop –> iterating through characters of a string

Finding a substring within a string

We can use the “window” method:

A “window” is created the same length as the substring. We then iterate through the main string in sections and compare to the substring

For example:

I T E R A T E

with substring “ERA”

public class StringFinder {
    public static void main(String sub) {
        String word = "iterate";
        boolean found = false; // will be set to true once substring is found

        for (int i = 0; i < word.length()-sub.length()+1; i++) { //iterating forwards: starting at first index (0) and going to the length of the word.. let's try word.length
            String portion = word.substring(i, i + sub.length());
            System.out.println(portion);
            if (portion.equals(sub)) // make sure you use .equals!!
                found = true;
        }

        if (found)
            System.out.println("substring " + sub + " is found within string!");
        else
            System.out.println("substring " + sub + " is NOT within string");
    }

    }

    StringFinder.main("era");
    StringFinder.main("rate");

ite
ter
era
rat
ate
substring era is found within string!
iter
tera
erat
rate
substring rate is found within string!

POPCORN HACK: Run the code.. what happened? How can we fix it?

Tell us below!

The code would do the folowing:

i = 0
    substring = [0,3] = "ITE"
i = 1
    substring = [1,4] = "TER"
i = 2
    substring = [2,5] = "ERA"
i = 3
    substring = [3,6] = "RAT"
i = 4
    substring = [4,7] = "ATE"
i = 5
    substring = [5,8] = ERROR!!
                   ^ This index is out of bounds for the string "iterate" (length = 7)

So the code won’t finish due to bounds erroring.

To fix this, we can change the condition of the for loop to i < main.length() - substring.length() + 1

The code will now do the following:

i = 0
    substring = [0,3] = "ITE"
i = 1
    substring = [1,4] = "TER"
i = 2
    substring = [2,5] = "ERA"
i = 3
    substring = [3,6] = "RAT"
i = 4
    substring = [4,7] = "ATE"
terminate loop

Another issue:

I T E R A T E

What if our substring was the word “RATE”? Note that RATE is at the end of the whole string

My implementation will still work

HACKS

Create a algorithm similar to the one above. Except this time, use iteration to count the number of vowels within the main string.

HINT: Use the boolean expressions we have learned in previous lessons. Which would you use when comparing your “window” with multiple options of substrings?

public class VowelFinder {

    public static void main(String word) {
        List<Character> vowels = new ArrayList<>();
        vowels.add('a');
        vowels.add('e');
        vowels.add('i');
        vowels.add('o');
        vowels.add('u');
        int vowelCount = 0;

        for (int i = 0; i < word.length(); i++) { //iterating forwards: starting at first index (0) and going to the length of the word.. let's try word.length
            
            if (vowels.contains(word.charAt(i))) // make sure you use .equals!!
                vowelCount++;
        }
        
        System.out.println("There are " + vowelCount + " vowels in the string " + word);
    }

}

VowelFinder.main("vowels"); // 2 vowels
VowelFinder.main("computerscience"); // 6 vowels

There are 2 vowels in the string vowels
There are 6 vowels in the string computerscience

4.4 Nested Iteration

nested iteration

occurs when we have a loop inside of another loop, similar to nested conditional statements in unit 3

When you have one loop inside another, the inner loop has to finish all its rounds before the outer loop moves to the next round. If the inner loop has a “stop” command, it only stops for that round of the outer loop. The next time the outer loop starts a new round, the inner loop starts over.

If you have two nested loops without stops, and the outer one runs n times while the inner one runs m times each time the outer one goes around, the inner loop will run m times n times, which is m * n times in total. This rule also applies if you have more than two nested loops. To find the total number of times the innermost loop runs, just multiply how many times each loop runs per round.

public class NestedLoopsDemo {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int n = 3; //numb of times the outside loop runs
        int m = 2; //numb of times the inside loop runs

        //the nested loops
        for (int i = 1; i <= n; i++) {
            System.out.println("Outer loop iteration: " + i);
            for (int j = 1; j <= m; j++) {
                System.out.println("Inner loop iteration: " + j);
            }
        }
    }
}
NestedLoopsDemo.main(null)

Break Statement

break statement

is used to exit a loop prematurely, typically when a certain condition is met. In the case of nested loops, it can be used to break out of the innermost loop.

public class BreakExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        for (int i = 1; i <= 3; i++) {
            System.out.println("Outer loop iteration " + i);

            for (int j = 1; j <= 3; j++) {
                System.out.println("Inner loop iteration " + j);

                if (i == 2 && j == 2) {
                    System.out.println("Breaking inner loop");
                    break; //break out of the inside loop when i is 2 and j is 2.
                }
            }
        }
    }
}
BreakExample.main(null)

Popcorn HACK

When the targetNumber is found, you can print a message and use the break statement to exit the loop. When it’s not found, you can print a message indicating that the number was not found.

public class BreakHack {
    public static void main(Integer targetNumber) {
        int[] numbers = {10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70}; //numb array

        for (int number : numbers) {
            if (number == targetNumber) {
                System.out.println(number + " was found!");
                return;
            }
        }
        System.out.println(targetNumber + " was not found!");
    }
}
BreakHack.main(42);
BreakHack.main(30);

42 was not found!
30 was found!

Continue Statement

continue statement

is used to skip the current iteration of a loop and move to the next iteration. In the case of nested loops, it applies to the innermost loop.

public class ContinueExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        for (int i = 1; i <= 3; i++) {
            System.out.println("Outer loop iteration " + i);

            for (int j = 1; j <= 3; j++) {
                if (i == 2 && j == 2) {
                    System.out.println("Skipping inner loop iteration " + j);
                    continue; //skip the iteration when i is 2 and j is 2.
                }
                System.out.println("Inner loop iteration " + j);
            }
        }
    }
}
ContinueExample.main(null)

Outer loop iteration 1
Inner loop iteration 1
Inner loop iteration 2
Inner loop iteration 3
Outer loop iteration 2
Inner loop iteration 1
Skipping inner loop iteration 2
Inner loop iteration 3
Outer loop iteration 3
Inner loop iteration 1
Inner loop iteration 2
Inner loop iteration 3

Patterns and Shapes

import java.util.Scanner;

public class InteractivePyramid {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Scanner scanner = new Scanner(System.in);

        System.out.print("Enter the symbol you want to use: ");
        char symbol = scanner.next().charAt(0);

        System.out.print("Enter the number of rows for the pyramid: ");
        int numRows = scanner.nextInt();
        System.out.println();

        for (int i = 1; i <= numRows; i++) {
            //print space before the symbol
            for (int j = 1; j <= numRows - i; j++) {
                System.out.print(" ");
            }

            //print
            for (int k = 1; k <= 2 * i - 1; k++) {
                System.out.print(symbol);
            }

            System.out.println(); //next line
        }
        scanner.close();
    }
}
InteractivePyramid.main(null)

Enter the symbol you want to use: Enter the number of rows for the pyramid: 
         *
        ***
       *****
      *******
     *********
    ***********
   *************
  ***************
 *****************
*******************

Hacks

Modify pyramid code:

Create different patterns (other then pyramid) by modifying nested loop structure

Questions

What is a nested iteration, continue statement, and break statement (in your own words)? - A nested iteration is multiple loops within eachother. A continue statement is a statement that tells the loop to keep running. A break statement is a statement that makes the code exit the loop.
Create a simple example of a continue statement or break statement - I will keep going through the deck of cards until I find an ace. If I find a card that isn’t an ace I will continue (continue). When I find an ace I will stop (break).

import java.util.Scanner;

public class ModifiedInteractivePyramid {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Scanner scanner = new Scanner(System.in);

        System.out.print("Enter the symbol you want to use: ");
        char symbol = scanner.next().charAt(0);

        System.out.print("Enter the number of rows for the top half of the diamond: ");
        int numRows = scanner.nextInt();
        System.out.println();

        for (int i = 1; i <= numRows; i++) {
            //print space before the symbol
            for (int j = 1; j <= numRows - i; j++) {
                System.out.print(" ");
            }

            //print
            for (int k = 1; k <= 2 * i - 1; k++) {
                System.out.print(symbol);
            }

            System.out.println(); //next line
        }

        for (int i = numRows-1; i >= 1; i--) {
            //print space before the symbol
            for (int j = 1; j <= numRows - i; j++) {
                System.out.print(" ");
            }

            //print
            for (int k = 1; k <= 2 * i - 1; k++) {
                System.out.print(symbol);
            }

            System.out.println(); //next line
        }
        scanner.close();
    }
}
ModifiedInteractivePyramid.main(null)

Enter the symbol you want to use: Enter the number of rows for the top half of the diamond: 
    *
   ***
  *****
 *******
*********
 *******
  *****
   ***
    *

4.5 Informal Code Analysis

Learning objective: Compute statement execution counts & informal run-time comparison of iterative statements

Essential Knowledge: A statement execution count indicates the number of times a statement is executed by the program

What IS informal code analysis?

Answer: An informal way of determining how many times the code loops

// CODE EXAMPLE #1 (for loop)
public class InformalCodeAnalysis {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int count = 0;
        for (int k = 0; k < 30; k++)
        {
            if (k % 3 == 0) // statement 1
            {
                count++; // statement 2
            }
        }
        System.out.println(count);
    }
}

InformalCodeAnalysis.main(null)

10

How many times will statement 1 execute?

Answer: 10

How many times will statement 2 execute?

Answer: 30

// CODE EXAMPLE #2 (for loop)
public class InformalCodeAnalysis {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int count = 0;
        for (int k = 4; k < 30; k+=3)
        {
            count++; // statement 3
        }
        System.out.println(count);
    }
}

InformalCodeAnalysis.main(null);

9

How many times will statement 3 execute?

Answer: 9

// Rewrite the code segment below to have a faster run-time based on statement execution counts
for (int k = 0; k < 135; k++)
{
    if (k % 5 == 0)
    {
        System.out.println(k);
    }
}

// Runs 27 times instead of 135 times
for (int k = 0; k < 135; k+=5)
{
    System.out.println(k);
}

// CODE EXAMPLE #3 (while loop)

int num = (int)(Math.random() * 10);
while (num % 2 != 0)
{
    num = (int)(Math.random() * 10); // statement 4
    System.out.println(num);
}

What is the min/max number of times statement 4 will execute?

Answer: the minimum possible times is 0, and the maximum possible times is infinite

// CODE EXAMPLE #4 (nested loop)

for (int outer = 0; outer < 3; outer++)
{
    for (int inner = 0; inner < 4; inner++)
    {
        // statement #5
    }
}

How many times will statement #5 execute?

Answer: 12 times

// CODE EXAMPLE #5 (nested loop)

int k = 0;
while (k < 5)
{
    int x = (int)(Math.random() * 6) + 1;
    while (x != 6)
    {
        // statement #6
        x = (int)(Math.random() * 6) + 1;
        System.out.println(x);
    }
    k++;
}

How many times will statement #6 execute?

Answer: it can be between 0 and infinite times

4.5 Hacks

#1 How many times will statement #1 and statement #2 execute in the code segments below?

Statement 1: 1000 times

Statement 2: 44 times

for (int k = 0; k < 1000; k++)
{
    // statement #1
}

for (int k = 6; k < 50; k++)
{
    // statement #2
}

#2 How many times will statement #3 execute for the code segment below?

Statement 3: 28 times

int k = 1;
while (k <=7)
{
    for (int z = 0; z < 4; z++)
    {
        // statement #3
    }
    k++;
}

#3 Create 3 seperate code segments that execute a statement 10 times using:

(a) a for loop

(b) a while loop

// 3a code
for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++)
{
    System.out.println(i);
    // statement #1
}

// 3b code
int i = 0;
while (i < 10)
{
    // statement #2
    System.out.println(i);
    i++;
}

// 3c code
int k=0;
for (int i=0; i<2; i++) {
    int j = 0;
    while (j < 5) {
        // statement #3
        System.out.println(k);
        j++;
        k++;
    }
}

U4 | Iteration

U4 | Iteration

4.1 while Loops

Example of While Loops

4.2 for Loops

for Loops vs. while Loops

POPCORN HACKS

4.3 Developing Algorithms Using Strings

Finding a substring within a string

I T E R A T E

POPCORN HACK: Run the code.. what happened? How can we fix it?

Another issue:

I T E R A T E

HACKS

4.4 Nested Iteration

Break Statement

Popcorn HACK

Continue Statement

Patterns and Shapes

Hacks

4.5 Informal Code Analysis

What IS informal code analysis?

4.5 Hacks

Further Reading

Binary Logic

Booleans