Simulations Hacks

Popcorn Hacks

Popcorn Hack #1: Dice Roll Simulation (Basic)

Objective: Write a function that simulates a 6-sided dice roll using the random module.

import random

def roll_dice():
    return random.randint(1, 6)

print("Dice roll:", roll_dice())

Dice roll: 4

Popcorn Hack #2: Biased Color Generator

Objective: Modify the function biased_color() so that:

• Red appears 50% of the time
• Blue appears 30% of the time
• All other colors share the remaining 20%

Then print 10 random biased colors.

import random

def biased_color():
    colors = ["red", "blue", "purple", "green", "yellow", "black", "white", "pink", "orange", "magenta"]
    probabilities = [0.5, 0.3, 0.025, 0.025, 0.025, 0.025, 0.025, 0.025, 0.025, 0.025]

    return random.choices(colors, probabilities)[0]
                     
for _ in range(10):
    print("Color:", biased_color())

Color: red
Color: pink
Color: red
Color: blue
Color: blue
Color: magenta
Color: blue
Color: blue
Color: black
Color: red

Practice MC

1 (Frog question): C

2018 Q18: C

Homework Hacks

Homework Hack #1- Coin Flip Win Simulation

Objective: Simulate a game where two players flip a coin. First to reach 3 heads wins.

Task:

1. Use random.choice() to simulate flipping a coin (“heads” or “tails”).
2. Each player flips once per round.
3. Track how many heads each player has.
4. Stop when one player reaches 3 heads.
5. Print the winner and how many rounds it took.

import random

def coin_flip():
    return random.choice(["heads", "tails"])

def play_game():
    player1_heads = 0
    player2_heads = 0
    rounds = 0

    while player1_heads < 3 and player2_heads < 3:
        rounds += 1
        print(f"\nRound {rounds}:")

        # Player 1 flip
        p1_flip = coin_flip()
        print(f"Player 1 flip: {p1_flip}")
        if p1_flip == "heads":
            player1_heads += 1

        p2_flip = coin_flip()
        print(f"Player 2 flip: {p2_flip}")
        if p2_flip == "heads":
            player2_heads += 1

        print(f"Score -> Player 1: {player1_heads} heads, Player 2: {player2_heads} heads")

    if player1_heads == 3:
        print(f"\nPlayer 1 wins in {rounds} rounds!")
    else:
        print(f"\nPlayer 2 wins in {rounds} rounds!")

play_game()

Round 1:
Player 1 flip: heads
Player 2 flip: heads
Score -> Player 1: 1 heads, Player 2: 1 heads

Round 2:
Player 1 flip: heads
Player 2 flip: heads
Score -> Player 1: 2 heads, Player 2: 2 heads

Round 3:
Player 1 flip: heads
Player 2 flip: heads
Score -> Player 1: 3 heads, Player 2: 3 heads

Player 1 wins in 3 rounds!