Question

Why is problem set 1 so hard?

Answer 1

It's actually pretty easy. Where are you at thus far?

Answer 2

What seems to be the trouble?

Answer 3

I think it's because this is the first time learning about computer science.

Answer 4

You are not being very specific as to what kind of help you need to get. Do you expect us to mumble on and give you 2 pages worth of information?

Ask a good question. As for your initial question, the answer to that is simply "It's not that hard".

Answer 5

Do you have any math or programming background at all? Problem set 1 is intended to introduce you to programming with a basic set of tools, then make you break down a complex task using those tools.

If you're having difficulty with the tools, rewatch the lecture and take notes, play with python to get an idea of how they work.
If you're having trouble breaking down the complex task, explain what you're thinking to us and you'll probably get a better idea of what you're doing.

Answer 6

Flawz, i'm having trouble with PS 1 also and I'm not stupid although your'e talking to hyunseob90 like he/she is which is discouraging to say the least. Especially since this is supposed to be a beginning class. I'm going to re-watch the lecture and see if I can use some of his ideas in this problem set but I've written three pages of ideas down and I'm not really there yet. Please, Flawz, be a little nicer to those of us who have no background in programming.

Answer 7

Don't get discouraged. Programming can be a difficult thing to wrap your brain around. Feel free to ask questions, and we'll see if we can't help you adjust your thinking to solve the problem.

Answer 8

@Alicebaker77, feel free to discuss ideas/thoughts about the problems either in a thread or in the group chat at the bottom of the site.

Answer 9

thanks polpak. do you think i should use some kind of iteration to come up with the list of odd numbers? if i do, i'm not sure how to go about it unless i copy the method used to exponentiate but tweak it a little.

Answer 10

I think a good starting exercise it to write a simple iteration to print the numbers from 1 to 100. Then modify your code to print only the odd ones. See if that doesn't make things a bit clearer.

Answer 11

would this be easiest if i set up a trio of variables as was shown in class? it looks like iteration works best if you have a variable that remains constant (x), one that changes with some operation (y), and then a third which sort of ticks down the number of times you've performed the operation (from the lecture it was ItersLeft.)

Answer 12

we're sort of hijacking this thread.. why don't we move the discussion into its own space.