Chapter 5

Repetition
and Loop
Statements

Outline
5.1 REPETITION IN PROGRAMS
5.2 COUNTING LOOPS AND THE WHILE STATEMENT
5.3 COMPUTING A SUM OR A PRODUCT IN A LOOP
5.4 THE FOR STATEMENT
5.5 CONDITIONAL LOOPS
5.6 LOOP DESIGN
5.7 NESTED LOOPS
5.8 THE DO-WHILE STATEMENT AND FLAG-CONTROLLED
LOOPS
5.9 PROBLEM SOLVING ILLUSTRATED
CASE STUDY: COMPUTING RADIATION LEVELS

5.10 HOW TO DEBUG AND TEST PROGRAMS

5.11 COMMON PROGRAMMING ERRORS
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Three types of program structure
sequence
selection
repetition This chapter

The repetition of steps in a program is called

loop
This chapter discuss three C loop control
statement
while
for
do-while
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5.1 Repetition in programs

Loop

Loop body

A control structure that repeats a group of steps in a

program
The statements that are repeated in the loop

Three questions to determine whether loops will be

required in the general algorithm: (Figure5.1)
1. Were there any steps I repeated as I solved the problem? If
so, which ones?
2. If the answer to question 1 is yes, did I know in advance
how many times to repeat the steps?
3. If the answer to question 2 is no, how did I know how long
to keep repeating the steps?

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Figure 5.1 Flow Diagram of Loop Choice Process

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Table 5.1 Comparison of Loop Kinds (Page 211)

Kind

When Used C Implementation

Structure

Section
Containing an
Example

while
for
while, for

5.2
5.4

Endfilecontroller loop

while, for

5.6

Input validation
loop

do-while

5.8

General
conditional loop

while, for

5.5, 5.9

Counting loop
Sentinelcontrolled loop

5.6

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5.2 Counting Loops and the while

Statement
Counter-controlled loop (counting loop)
A loop whose required number of iterations can be
determined before loop execution begins

Figure 5.2 shows a program fragment that

computes and displays the gross pay for seven
employees.

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Figure 5.2 Program Fragment with a Loop

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Flowchart for a while Loop

Looprepetitioncondition

statement

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The while Statement

Loop repetition condition
The condition that controls loop repetition

Loop control variable

The variable whose value controls loop repetition

The loop control variable must be

Initialization
Testing
Updating
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Syntax of the while Statement

Syntax while (loop repetition condition)
statement
Example /* Display N asterisks. */
count_star = 0
while (count_star < N) {
printf(*)
count_star = count_star + 1
}
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5.3 Computing a Sum or a Product in a

Loop
accumulator
a variable used to store a value being computed in
increments during the execution of a loop

Fig.5.4 Program to Compute Company Payroll

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Figure 5.4 Program to Compute Company Payroll

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Figure 5.4 Program to Compute Company Payroll

(contd)

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Compound Assignment Operators

Assignment statements of the form
variable = variable op expression
Where op is a C arithmetic operator
variable op = expression
Table 5.3
Ex. time = time 1; time -= 1;

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Compound Assignment Operators

Simple Assignment
Operators
count_emp = count_emp
+ 1;

Compound Assignment
Operators
count_emp += 1;

time = time -1;

product = product *
item;

time -= 1;
product *= item;

total = total /
number;

total /= number;

n = n % (x+1);

n %= x+1;
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5.4 The for Statement

Three loop control components
Initialization of the loop variable
Test of the loop repetition condition
Change (update) of the loop control variable

Using a for statement in a counting loop.

(Figure 5.5)

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Figure 5.5
Using a for Statement in a Counting Loop

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Syntax of for Statement

Syntax: for (initialization expression;
loop repetition condition;
update expression)
statement
Example: /* Display N asterisks */
for (count_star = 0; count_star <N; count_star += 1)
printf(*);
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Increment and Decrement Operators

Side effect
a change in the value of a variable as a result of
carrying out an operation

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Figure 5.6
Comparison of Prefix and Postfix Increments

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Example 5.3
Function factorial computes the factorial of an
integer represented by the formal parameter n.
The loop body executes for decreasing values
of i from n through 2, and each value of i is
incorporated in the accumulating product. Loop
exit occurs when i is 1. (Figure 5.7)

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Figure 5.7 Function to Compute Factorial

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Increments and Decrements Other Than 1

Example 5.4
Use a loop that counts down by five to display a
Celsius-to-Fahrenheit conversion table. (Figure
5.8)

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Figure 5.8 Displaying a Celsius-to-Fahrenheit Conversion

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5.5 Conditional Loops

Not be able to determine the exact number of
loop repetitions before loop execution begins
Ex.
Print an initial prompting message
Get the number of observed values
While the number of values is negative
Print a warning and another prompting message
Get the number of observed values

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Example 5.5
(Figure 5.9)
The program is designed to assist in monitoring
the gasoline supply in a storage tank at the
Super Oil Company refinery.
The program is to alert the supervisor when the
supply of gasoline in the tank falls below 10% of
the tanks 80,000 barrel storage capacity.
The barrel used in the petroleum industry
equals 42 U.S. gallons
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Figure 5.9 Program to Monitor Gasoline Storage Tank 528

Loop
repetition

Figure 5.9 Program to Monitor Gasoline Storage Tank (contd)

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Figure 5.9 Program to Monitor Gasoline Storage

Tank (contd)

Warningmessageafter
runningoutoftheloop
inmonitor_gas

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Example 5.5
(Figure 5.9)
There are three critical steps in Fig.5.9 that
involve the loop control variable current:
current is initialized to the starting supply in the for
statement initialization expression
current is tested before each execution of the loop
body
current is updated (by subtraction of the amount
removed) during each iteration

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5.6 Loop Design

Sentinel value
An end marker that follows the last item in a list of
data
A loop that processes data until the sentinel

value is entered has the form

1. Get a line of data

2. while the sentinel value has not been encountered
3. Process the data line
4. Get another line of data

For program readability, we usually name the sentinel

by defining a constant macro.
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Problem-Solving Questions for Loop

Design (pp. 239)
Question

Answer

Implications for
the Algorithm

What are the inputs?

Initial supply
Amounts removed

start_supply
remov_gals

What are the outputs?

amount removed
current supply

remov_gals
current

Is there any repetition?

yes

Do I know in advance how many

times steps will be repeated?

no

How do I know how long to

keep repeating the steps?

As long as the
current supply is
not below the
minimum

subprogram
monitor_gas

condition:
current >=min_supply

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Example 5.6
(Figure 5.10)
A program that calculates the sum of a
collection of exam scores is a candidate for
using a sentinel value.
Sentinel loop
Beforethewhileloop

1. Initialize sum to zero

2. Get first score
3. while score is not the sentinel
4. Add score to sum
5. Get next score

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Example 5.6 (cont)

(Figure 5.10)
Incorrect sentinel loop
1. Initialize sum to zero
2. while score is not the sentinel
3. Get score
4. Add score to sum

Two problems
No initializing input statement
Sentinel value will be added to sum before exit
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Figure 5.10 Sentinel-Controlled while Loop

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Sentinel-Controlled Structure
One input to get the loop going (initialization)
Second to keep it going (updating)

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Using a for Statement to Implement a

Sentinel Loop
The for statement form of the while loop in Fig.5.10
/* Accumulate sum of all scores */
printf(Enter first score (or %d to quit)>, SENTINEL);
for (scanf(%d, &score); score != SENTINEL;
scanf(%d, &score)) {
sum += score;
printf(Enter next score(%d to quit)>, SENTINEL);
}
538

Endfile-Controlled Loops
Pseudocode for an endfile-controlled loop
1. Get the first data values and save input status
2. While input status does not indicate that end of file
has been reached
3. Process data value
4. Get next data value and save input status

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Figure 5.11 Batch Version of Sum of Exam Scores Program

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5.7 Nested Loops

Nested loops consist of an outer loop with one
or more inner loops.
Example 5.7 (Figure 5.12)
The program contains a sentinel loop nested within
a counting loop.

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Innerloop

Figure 5.12 Program to Process Bald Eagle Sightings for a Year

542

Figure 5.12 Program to Process Bald Eagle

Sightings for a Year (contd)

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Example 5.8
(Figure 5.13)
A sample run of a program with two nested
counting loops.
Not be able to use the same variable as the
loop control variable of both an outer and an
inner for loop in the same nest.

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Figure 5.13
Nested
Counting
Loop
Program

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5.8 The do-while Statement and FlagControlled Loops

do-while statement execute at least one time.
Pseudocode
1. Get data value
2. If data value isnt in the acceptable range, go back
to step 1.

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Syntax of do-while Statement

Syntax
do
statement
while (loop repetition condition);
Example
/* Find first even number input */
do
status = scanf(%d, &num)
while (status>0 && (num%2) != 0)
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Flag-Controlled Loops for Input

Validation
flag
A type int variable used to represent whether or not
a certain event has occurred
A flag has one of two values
1 (true)
0 (false)

548

Example 5.10
(Figure 5.14)
Function get_int returns an integer value that is
in the range specified by its two arguments.
The outer do-while structure implements the
stated purpose of the function.
The type int variable error acts as a program
flag.
error is initialized to 0 and is changed to 1 when
an error is detected.
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Figure 5.14 Validating Input Using do-while Statement

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5.9 Problem Solving Illustrated

Case Study
Collecting Area For Solar-Heated House
Problem
An architect needs a program that can estimate the
appropriate size for the collecting area of a solarheated house.
Considerate factors
Average number of heating degree days for the coldest
month of a year
The heating requirements per square foot of floor space
Floor space
Efficiency of the collection method
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Case Study
Collecting Area For Solar-Heated House (cont)
Problem
The program will have to access two data files
File hdd.txt
Contains numbers representing the average heating degree days
in the construction location for each of 12 months

Heating degree days

= average temperature difference between insides and outside

* number of days in the month
File solar.txt
Contains the average solar insolation for each month
(rate at which solar radiation falls on one square foot of a given location)

552

Case Study
Collecting Area For Solar-Heated House (cont)
Analysis
Problem Inputs

File: average heating degree days, average solar insolation

heat_deg_days, coldest_mon
solar_insol, heating_req
efficiency, floor_space

desired collecting area A

heat loss
energy resource

heat loss = heating_req * floor_space * heat_deg_days

energy resource = efficiency * 0.01 * solar_insol * days

553

Case Study
Collecting Area For Solar-Heated House (cont)
Analysis
Problem Variables
energy_resrc

Problem Output
heat_loss
collect_area

554

Case Study
Collecting Area For Solar-Heated House (cont)
Design
Initial Algorithm
1. Determine the coldest month and the average heating
degree days for this month.
2. Find the average daily solar insolation per ft 2 for the
coldest month.
3. Get from the user the other problem inputs: heating_req,
efficiency, and floor_space.
4. Estimate the collection area needed.
5. Display results.
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Case Study
Collecting Area For Solar-Heated House (cont)
Design
Refinement
1.1 Scan first value from heating degree days file into
heat_deg_days, and initialize coldest_mon to 1.
1.2 Initialize ct to 2
1.3 Scan a value from the file into next_hdd, saving status
1.4 as long as no faulty data/end of file, repeat
1.5 if next_hdd is greater than heat_deg_days
1.6 copy next_hdd into heat_deg_days
1.7 copy ct into coldest_days
1.8 Increment ct
1.9 Scan a value from the file into next_hdd, saving status

556

Case Study
Collecting Area For Solar-Heated House (cont)
Design
Refinement
4.1 Calculate heat_loss as the product of heating_req,
floor_space, and heat_deg_days
4.2 Calculate energy_resrc as the product of efficiency,
solar_insol, and the number of days in the coldest
month
4.3 Calculate collect_area as heat_loss divided by
energy_resrc. Round result to nearest whole square foot

557

Case Study
Collecting Area For Solar-Heated House (cont)
Design
Functions
nth_item
days_in_item

Input file hdd.txt

995 900 750 400 180 20 10 10 60 290 610 1051

Input file solar.txt

500 750 1100 1490 1900 2100 2050 1550 1200 900 500
500
558

Figure 5.15 Structure Chart for Computing Solar

Collecting Area Size

559

Figure 5.16 Program to Approximate Solar

Collecting Area Size

560

Figure 5.16 Program to Approximate Solar Collecting Area Size

(contd)
561

Figure 5.16 Program to Approximate Solar Collecting Area Size

(contd)

562

Figure 5.16 Program to Approximate Solar Collecting Area Size

(contd)
563

5.10 How to Debug and Test Programs

Using debugger programs
Execute programs one statement at a time (singlestep execution)
Set breakpoints at selected statements when a
program is very long

Debugging without a debugger

Insert extra diagnostic calls to printf that display
intermediate results at critical points
#define DEBUG 1
#define DEBUG 0
564

Example: debug using printf

while (score != SENTINEL) {
sum += score;
if (DEBUG)
printf (***** score is %d, sum is %d\n, score, sum);
printf (Enter next score (%d to quit)> , SENTINEL);
scanf(%d, &score);
}
#defineDEBUG1turnondiagnostics
#defineDEBUG0turnoff
565

Off-by-One Loop Errors

A common logic error
A loop executes one more time or one less time
executen+1time

for (count = 0; count <= n; ++count)

sum += count;

Loop boundaries
Initial and final values of the loop control variable
566

5.11 Common Programming Errors(1/3)

Do not confuse if and while statements
if statement implement a decision step
while/for statement implement a loop

Remember to end the initialization expression and the

loop repetition condition with semicolons.
Remember to use braces around a loop body
consisting of multiple statements.
Remember to provide a prompt for the users, when
using a sentinel-controlled loop.
Make sure the sentinel value cannot be confused with
a normal data item.
567

Common Programming Errors (2/3)

Use do-while only when there is no possibility of
zero loop iterations.
Replace the segment with a while or for
statement when adding an if statement.
if (condition1)
do {

} while(condition1);
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Common Programming Errors(3/3)

Do not use increment, decrement, or compound
assignment operators as subexpressions in
complex expressions.
Be sure that the operand of an increment or
decrement operator is a variable and that this
variable is referenced after executing the
increment or decrement operation.

569

Chapter Review (1)

Two kinds of loops occur frequently in
programming
Counting loops
The number of iterations required can be determined
before the loop is entered.

Sentinel-controlled loops
Repetition continues until a special data value is scanned.

570

Chapter Review (2)

Pseudocode for each form
Counter-controlled loop
Set loop control variable to an initial value of 0.
While loop control variable<final value
..
Increase loop control variable by 1

Sentinel-controlled loop
Get a line of data
While the sentinel value has not been encountered
Process the data line
Get another line of data
571

Chapter Review (3)

Pseudocode for each form
Endfile-controlled loop
Get first data value and save input status
While input status does not indicate that end of the file has
been reached
Process data value
Get next data value and save input status

Input validation loop

Get a data value
if data value isnt in the acceptable range,
go back to first step
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Chapter Review (4)

Pseudocode for each form
General condition loop
Initialize loop control variable
As long as exit condition hasnt been met,
continue processing

C provides three statements for implementing

loops: while, for, do-while
The loop control variable must be initialized,
tested, and updated.
573

Question?
A good question deserve a good grade

574