Python coin flip with functions

Question

I need to create a python program that will use various functions to simulate flipping a coin 100 times and finding the largest streak of "H"'s out of 10,000 tries. I am stuck on how to finish the def main() function, specifically the counter. I also don't know if my program is calculating the streaks correctly.

def flipCoin() - returns 'H' or 'T' with the same probability as a coin.

def simulate(numFlips) - simulates flipping a coin numFlips(100) times. This function returns a list of length numFlips containing H's and T's.

def countStreak(flips_list) - iterates through the flips list passed to it and counts streaks of 'H's and returns the largest streak it finds. Keep track of the current number of heads and the current largest streak of heads in two separate variables. As you iterate through the list, keep track of the current number of heads you've seen in a row. If you see a tail, check if the current streak of heads is larger than your current longest streak. If so, save the current streak. Then reset your heads counter.

In the main function, write a testing loop that simulates the process 10000 times. Keep track of the current largest streak of heads and display this result after the test loop completes.

# import statements import random # function defintions def flip(): coin = random.randint(0, 1) if coin == 0: return "H" else: return "T" def simulate(num_flips): # simulates numFlips coin flips # returns a list of the flips numFlips = [] for i in range(100): numFlips.append(flip()) return numFlips def countStreak(flips_list): # iterates through the 'flips' list # returns number of 'H's count = 0 maxCount = 0 flips_list = simulate() for i in flips_list: if i == "H": count += 1 if count > maxCount: maxCount = count else: count = 0 return maxCount def main(): for j in range(10000): trial = simulate(100) coinFlip = countStreak(1) # need something here to track count of streaks for "H" print("The longest streak of heads was " + str(coinFlip) +".") if __name__ == "__main__": main()

why not do 10000 flips at once?

Pinak Paliwal
– Pinak Paliwal

2022-03-22 16:20:29 +00:00
Commented Mar 22, 2022 at 16:20 — Pinak Paliwal
– Pinak Paliwal, Commented Mar 22, 2022 at 16:20

Anshumaan Mishra · Accepted Answer · 2022-03-22 16:36:51Z

So there was a flaw in your code, you were running simulate() function 10000 times. But actually, you had to run it once, but return a list of 10000 items. Also, you need not check the streak every time so the check_streak() need to be out of the loop and we need to pass the result obtained from simulate(10000) into it. Correct Code:

# import statements import random # function defintions def flip(): coin = random.randint(0, 1) # better option would be to use random.choice() if coin == 0: return "H" else: return "T" def simulate(num): # simulates numFlips coin flips # returns a list of the flips numFlips = [] for i in range(num): # this needs to run num times numFlips.append(flip()) return numFlips def countStreak(flips_list): # iterates through the 'flips' list # returns number of 'H's count = 0 maxCount = 0 for i in flips_list: if i == "H": count += 1 if count > maxCount: maxCount = count else: count = 0 return maxCount def main(): trial = [] for j in range(10000): temp2 = simulate(100) # SImulate 10000 coin flips coinFlip = countStreak(temp2) # Check streak of variable trial trial.append(coinFlip) # need something here to track count of streaks for "H" # print(trial) print("The longest streak of heads was " + str(max(trial)) +".") if __name__ == "__main__": main()

This Part is Optional, For optimisation

Though the logic isn't wrong, you need not make the list 1st and then check streak, you can simply check it together, it will take less time and space.
Also, your logic is correct, but this one would be better:

import random # function defintions def flip(): return random.choice(['H', 'T']) # using random.choice() def simulate(num_flips): streak = 0 temp = 0 for i in range(num_flips): if flip() == 'H': temp+=1 # adding one to temporary streak if it is a heads else: # this block executes if streak is broken if temp > streak: streak = temp temp = 0 return streak def main(): trial = [] for i in range(10000): trial.append(simulate(100)) print("The longest streak of heads was " + str(max(trial)) +".") if __name__ == "__main__": main()

right as I finished writing, you posted a solid good answer. The optimization was pretty smart.
Completely my fault, I forgot to put it in my original question. I have to have the coin flip 100 times and then count the highest streak of "H" after 10,000 tries. That's why I had the for loop in main (not sure if that is even how you would go about that).

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