Re: looping through possible combinations of McNuggets packs of 6,9 and 20

[MRAB]

Baba wrote:

Hi News123

Thank You for helping me out. Indeed i am not looking for the code but
rather for hints that direct my reasoning as well as hints as to how
to write basic programs like this.

You have broken down the approach into 2 parts. I have tried to solve
part 1 but i'm not quite there yet. Here's my code:

def can_buy(n_nuggets):
    for a in range (1,n_nuggets):
        for b in range (1,n_nuggets):
            for c in range (1,n_nuggets):
                if 6*a+9*b+20*c==n_nuggets:
                    #print a,b,c,'n_nuggets=',n_nuggets
                    return True
                else:
                    return False


can_buy(55)

as you can see i am trying to loop through all combinations of values
bewtween 1 and n_nuggets and when the equation resolves it should
return True, else it should return False.

I was hoping that when i then call my function and ask it to test a
value nothing happens. What is wrong? My syntax? My semantic? Both?

Think about it this way.

How many packs of 20 would you need? You don't want too many, but too
few is OK.

Then, how many packs of 9 for the remaining nuggets? (Again, you don't
want too many.)

Then, how many packs of 6?

If all the nuggets are accounted for, good, otherwise reduce the number
of one of the packs and try again. Repeat as necessary.

A couple of 'for' loops will do it.
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