Please always reply-all so a copy goes to the list. We all participate
and learn.
Would you also respond to my requests for clarified algorithm?
[email protected] wrote:
Hi Bob,
Thanks for your input! I ran the program in IDLE and it worked just
fine. Apparently my calculations were correct, although sloppy. Some
very good points for me to consider;
Thanks for the acknowledgment.
Indentation. I felt for myself it was a bit more readable, but
considering I'm new and the formatting may not survive other OS's, I
plan on making those changes.
The use of the 1.041 for the interest rate. Here, as I'm not
mathematically inclined I don't see the advantages, but I'll compare
the program to yours to see how it works.
Your calculation was, in effect, principal = principal + principal *
interest. Do you recall factoring in algebra?
principal = principal * (1 + interest). For me it is a little easier on
the eyes and thinking to see the latter.
You could also do:
principal += principal * interest
Starting the count at 2 and eliminating the other if statements is a
great simplification.
It all seems a bit clearer in your rendition.
Thanks again,
Pat
On Feb 8, 2009, at 3:11 PM, bob gailer wrote:
principal = balance = 500000 # Starting fund amount.
interestRate = .05 # Interest rate added to the principal annually.
tuition = 34986 # Starting tuition fee
tuitionInc = 1.041 # The annual increase applied to the tuition.
print principal, "Is the starting principal" # This is to show the
starting balance.
print tuition, "Is the starting tuition."
balance = principal - tuition
print balance," the amount remaining after first tuition deduction. "
interest = balance * interestRate # calculates the amount added to
the fund
print interest, " Interest added to fund for one year. "
newBalance = balance + interest
print newBalance, "is the new balance."
count = 2 # keeps me informed on the number of students benefitting
from this grant.
while principal > tuition:
tuition *= tuitionInc # calculates the rising cost of tuition.
if newBalance < tuition:
print newBalance + interest
newBalance = principal
print principal," is the new balance. "
interest = principal * interestRate
print interest," is the new interest on the principal. "
balance = principal + interest
print balance,"is the new principal. "
tuition *= tuitionInc # calculates the rising cost of tuition.
print tuition," is the new cost of tuition. "
principal = newBalance - tuition
print principal," is the new balance. "
interest = principal * interestRate
print interest," is the new interest on the principal. "
balance = principal + interest
print balance, "is the new principal. "
count = count + 1
if tuition > principal:
print principal + interest, "was available for the last student."
if count > 10:
print count, "Students used this grant."
--
Bob Gailer
Chapel Hill NC
919-636-4239
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