Skip to main content

Subgoals

Section 6.12 Worked Example: Nested Loops

Subgoals for Evaluating a Loop.

  1. Identify loop parts
    1. Determine start condition
    2. Determine update condition
    3. Determine termination condition
    4. Determine body that is repeated
  2. Trace the loop
    1. For every iteration of loop, write down values

Subsection 6.12.1

You can watch this video or read through the content below it.
Problem: Given the following code, what is the output?
int i = 0, j = 0, m = 8, n = 5;
while (i < n)
{
  j = 0;
  while (j < m)
  {
        System.out.print("*");
        j++;
  }
  System.out.println();
  i++;
}

Subsection 6.12.2 SG1: Diagram which statements go together.

Figure 6.12.1.

Subsection 6.12.3 SG2: Define and initialize variables

For now, we begin with the variables that control the outer loop.
Start:
i = 0, n = 5
End:
i >= 5

Subsection 6.12.4 SG3: Trace the loop

Think of an analog clock:
Second hand goes completely around before minute hand moves
Just like inner loop:
Inner loop must finish before outer loop increments once
Figure 6.12.2.
Looking at ONLY the outer loop: <NL> is a new line
Figure 6.12.3.
Now Repeat for inner loop

Subsection 6.12.5 SG1: Diagram which statements go together.

Figure 6.12.4.

Subsection 6.12.6 SG2: Define and initialize variables

Start:
j = 0, m = 8
End:
j >= 8

Subsection 6.12.7 SG3: Trace the loop

Looking at Only the inner loop:
Figure 6.12.5.
Remember, this was just for the first iteration of the outer loop, while i is still value 0.
Figure 6.12.6.
Continuing to the next iteration of the outer loop, i is 1 and j is re-started at value 0:
Figure 6.12.7.
Again, increment i to 2, and j is re-started at 0:
Figure 6.12.8.
Note that outer loop goes 5 times,
Inner loop goes 8 times (for each outer loop)
Figure 6.12.9.
The final output will be 5 lines of 8 asterisks (*).

Practice Pages.

You have attempted of activities on this page.
PrevTopNext