Display the number of bits needed to represent a number

• Make variables called:

  • total_number_of_dots and set its value to the number entered by the end user.
  • bit_value and set its value to 1. Double its value until it is bigger than total_number_of_dots.
  • bits and set its value to 0. Every time that you double bit_value you need to add a new bit for storing the number (increase the value of bits by 1).

• Use a while loop to repeat the lines as long as total_number_of_dots is greater than or equal to bit_value. Display the value of bits as the output.

• Set the variable bit_value to 1 and double it until it is bigger than total_number_of_dots. Every time that you double bit_value you need to add a new bit for storing the number. Use a while loop to repeat these steps until the condition is no longer true In this challenge you need to repeat the blocks while total_number_of_dots is greater than or equal to bit_value.

• Test your program with some values on the boundaries (for example number 31 would need 5 bits and 32 needs 6 bits).

Print statements

# Print a string directly
print("Hello World!")

# Print a variable
print(my_var)

Variables

# Set a variable as a string
fruit_name = "Apple"

# Set a variable as an integer 
pieces_of_fruit = 7

# Set a variable from a calculation
cost_of_fruit = pieces_of_fruit * cost_per_item

# Add one to a value
pieces_of_fruit += 1

Conditionals

# Find out the discount on fruit
if pieces_of_fruit > 100:
   print("Bulk discount applies")
elif pieces_of_fruit > 5:
   print("Discount applies")
else:
   print("No discount")

For loops

# Print numbers 0-9 - remember Python starts counting from 0 
for num in range(10):
    print(num)

While loops

# Print numbers 0-9 using a while loop and a variable
num = 0
while num < 10:
    print(num)

    # Increment the variable by one.
    # It will prevent an infinite loop!
    num += 1 

Lists

# Create a list of fruit 
fruit = ["Apple", "Banana", "Orange", "Pear"]

Functions

# Create a function which prints a greeting
def greeting(name):
    print("Hello " + name)

# Call the function
greeting("Spiderman")