Message 2/111 Carl Gibson Jan 29, 99 04:25:34 am -0800
Return-Path: <ir118>
Subject: Re: Practice programs...
To: abarnett@ucsd.edu (Anissa Barnett)
Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1999 04:25:34 -0800 (PST)
Cc: ir118@sdcc3.ucsd.edu (Carl Gibson)
Reply-To: ir118@sdcc3.ucsd.edu
Dear Anissa:
Thanks for the email. Reading a textbook about computer
programming is certainly different than reading one about cooking or
gardening...which are more forgiving activities. You have to read, then do,
then read again, etc. etc., before it will become intuitive. See
it, say it, hear it, speak it, read it, write it, then repeat
it...this is the way to learn a language.
Regarding PP4.1 and PP4.2, they are supposed to get you to
practice using for loops with a negative step, and do loops, which
you have done in the modified programs. Try this for PP4.1:
LET int = 0 ! initialize int, the control variable
FOR int = 10 to 1 step -1
PRINT int;
NEXT int
END
A little fancier version for PP4.2 is:
LET int = 0 ! initialize control variable int
DO
LET int = int + 2
PRINT int;
LOOP until int => 20
PRINT "The value of the control variable int is ";int
LET int = 2 ! initialize control variable int
DO until int = 22
PRINT int;
LET int = int + 2
LOOP
PRINT "Now the value of the control variable int is ";int
PAUSE 2
SET COLOR "green"
PRINT "20 was better"
PAUSE 1
SET COLOR "red"
PRINT "Sound the alarm!"
SOUND 500,.2
SOUND 500,.5
SOUND 500,.2
PAUSE 1
SOUND 500,.5
SOUND 500,.5
SOUND 500,.5
PAUSE 1
SOUND 500,.2
SOUND 500,.5
SOUND 500,.2
END
Try this one out. It gives an SOS signal in morse code at
the end for fun.
Please don't get discouraged. You can do it!
Regards,
CHG
> I have finished all the modified examples for ch. 4, but I'm not really sure
> how that prepared us for practice program 1 and 2. There wasn't anything in
> the book that dis that... the rest of the examples were sums, not individual
> displays, so how are we supposed to do that? My section is tomorrow (thurs.)
> and I would really like to do all my homework, since it is such a large
> percentage of our grade. And unfortunately, I do have to agree with Samantha
> about the value of our book and our final project. I have read ahead, but
> there is no way I could come up with a program of the caliber that is
> required. I know how to incorporate shapes, and switch colors, but that's
> about it. And I too believe that we should drop the 2 lowest quiz grades,
> because some of us don't yet have the ability to think in a computer
> language like BASIC, and it's really hard to absorb the stuff in the book.
> And also, where can I find out what my grades are so far? I don't know if
> you mentioned it while I was gone, but they're not up on the web site, and I
> would like to see how I'm doing so far to decide if I would rather take the
> class P/NP. This class has made me seriously think about changing my major,
> because I just don't know if I can handle it. Please calm my fears. Thank you.
>
> Anissa Barnett