Question

has anyone tried doing the prime number problem 1? I can generate a list but am having trouble with the rest.

Answer 1

ok, so I tried this. Thought it was in response to my post but now I cannot find it. but it goes over 1000 and doesn't stop until after 7000+. Ideas?
#prime numbers to 1000
prime_count = 1
start_number = 2
number_to_check = 2
while prime_count <= 1000:
result = number_to_check % start_number
if result > 0:
start_number +=1
elif result == 0:
if start_number == number_to_check:
print number_to_check
number_to_check +=1
prime_count +=1
start_number =2
else:
number_to_check +=1
start_number = 2

Answer 2

I think that if you rewrite your if/else with an eye towards eliminating duplicate statements, your problem will show itself.

If you want to speed this code up, 2 is the only even prime number.

Answer 3

If you want something that just 'works', change this line:

while prime_count <= 1000:
into this:
while number_to_check <= 1000:

If you want to learn about how to improve that function, take a look here:
http://pastebin.com/2Qdvb60c

Answer 4

pls use a code pasting site to post code - be sure to select Python syntax highlighting if it has that option. use line numbers when referring to specific parts of the code.

http://dpaste.com
http://pastebin.com
http://pastie.org
http://codepad.org

Answer 5

Yay! Thanks bdean20. I will also look at the links you and bwCA sent. would like to understand it better.