COMP1021
Introduction to Computer Science
An Example of a Nested Loop
David Rossiter and Gibson Lam
Outcomes
• After completing this presentation, you are
expected to be able to:
1. Use nested while loops to create a target
pattern
COMP1021 An Example of a Nested Loop Page 2
Using Nested
Loops
• On the right is a
flower image
created by a
single program
• The petals are a
good example of
using nested loops
The Program Stages
• Stage 1: Get the graphics started
– Import the turtle module, fast speed
• Stage 2: Create the curved stem
– Draw a small part of a circle
• Stage 3: Draw the petals
– Uses a nested loop
• Stage 4: Draw the flower centre
– Draw a yellow circle
Stage 1 – Get the Graphics Started
• Like many of the programs we have seen, the
first step is to import the turtle module and set
some initial parameters i.e.:
import turtle
[Link](0)
COMP1021 An Example of a Nested Loop Page 5
Stage 2 – Create the Curved Stem
• We can create the stem of the flower
using the [Link]() command:
[Link](20)
[Link]("green")
[Link]() # Don't draw while we move
[Link](100, -400) # Move the turtle to bottom right
[Link](90) # Point the turtle upwards
[Link]() # Start drawing from now onwards
[Link](1000, 30) # Draw part of a large circle
COMP1021 An Example of a Nested Loop Page 6
Stage 3 – Draw the Petals
while . . .condition . . . :
. . .statement(s) . . .
while . . .condition . . . :
. . .statement(s) . . .
• As you already know, a loop inside another loop
is called a nested loop
• It doesn’t matter what type of loop it is; any type of
loop inside any type of loop is called a nested loop
• So far we know about while loops, in another
presentation we will learn about for loops
Designing the Nested Loop Structure
• Let’s consider how we can use a nested loop
• Outer loop: repeat 8 times, for drawing 8 petals
• Move to the position of the first circle
• Inner loop: repeat 13 times, for drawing 13 circles
• Draw a circle of the appropriate size
• Move to the position of the next circle
• Go backwards, to the centre position of the flower
• Rotate the turtle by 45 degrees, ready for the next petal
• We will first show the inner loop, then the outer loop
A Petal circle_number= 12 diameter= 19.5
circle_number= 11 diameter= 36.0
circle_number= 10 diameter= 49.5
circle_number= 9 diameter= 60.0
circle_number= 8 diameter= 67.5
circle_number= 7 diameter= 72.0
circle_number= 6 diameter= 73.5
circle_number= 5 diameter= 72.0
circle_number= 4 diameter= 67.5
circle_number= 3 diameter= 60.0
Direction of circle_number= 2 diameter= 49.5
adding circles circle_number= 1 diameter= 36.0
• In this slide different circle_number= 0 diameter= 19.5
shades of grey are used • To make the leaf shape a clever formula
just to help you see the is used which uses the circle number to
different circles determine an appropriate diameter
The Inner Loop
gap_between_circle = 10 These 3 variables Direction
total_circles = 13 are used in the of adding
circles
following code
circle_number = 0
while circle_number < total_circles: Repeat 13 times
diameter = (circle_number + 1) * 1.5 Calculate the
* (total_circles - circle_number) diameter using a
clever formula, based
[Link](diameter) on the circle number
[Link](gap_between_circle) (you don’t need to
circle_number = circle_number + 1 understand the
maths)
Draw a circle and then move forward
(away from the center of the flower) to get in position for the next circle
starting_distance = 40
These 3 variables
total_petals = 8
are used in the
The turtle moves
following code
petal_number = 0 forward when it
while petal_number < total_petals: makes a petal; now
[Link](starting_distance) go backwards to reach
the flower center once
The code shown in the again, ready for the
previous slide goes here creating the next petal
[Link](starting_distance
+ (total_circles * gap_between_circle) )
If there’s 8 petals this
[Link](360/ total_petals) angle will be 360/8
= 45 degrees
petal_number = petal_number + 1
The Outer Loop
Stage 4 – Draw the Flower Centre
# Set the turtle drawing colour
[Link]("yellow")
# Make a circle, using the drawing colour
[Link](160)
# Sometimes we need this:
[Link]()
