← Python

range()

range() generates a sequence of integers, most often used with a for loop

Part of: Python Coding — Module 21, VCE Software Development - U3O1 - Programming — Module 44, VCE Software Development - U4O1 - development and evaluation — Module 28, 7-8 Digital Technologies: Programming in Python — Module 19, 9-10 Digital Technologies: Python foundations — Module 14, VCE Applied Computing U1O2 Programming: Control structures — Module 9, IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 7c Pseudocode and Flowcharts — Module 76, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Programming with Control Structures and Functions (Python) — Module 33, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Testing and Validating Programs — Module 34, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Modular and Object-Oriented Programming (Python) — Module 21, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 1 — Algorithms and Programming Techniques — Module 53, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 1 — Programmed Solutions — Module 33, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 4 — Prototype Digital Data Exchanges — Module 16, WA Computer Science ATAR Year 11 — Control Structures and Data Types — Module 31

Understanding range() in Python

What it does: range(start, stop, step) — starts at 2, counts by 2, stops before 8. Step of 2, stopping before 10 — so 10 is excluded. Stop is 0, which is excluded — count down stops at 1. range(1, 4) gives 1, 2, 3 — that's 3 numbers. Start at 1, add 3 each time: 1, 4, 7, then 10 is excluded. range() only accepts integer arguments. Using floats causes a TypeError. list() converts a range to a list. range(3) gives 0, 1, 2. Creates numbers from 0 up to but not including stop.

Common mistakes: range(1, 5) stops before 5: use range(1, 6) to include 5. To count down, you need a negative step: range(10, 0, -1).

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Learning
Duo
What does range(5) produce?
0, 1, 2, 3, 41, 2, 3, 4, 5
Matches
❌ range(1.5, 10)
↓
Error: range() needs integers
Applying
Meanings
Term
range(stop)
Meaning
Creates numbers from 0 up to but not including stop.
Practice
for i in range(5):
Testing
Gaps
for i in (5):
Check Answer
Spots
2total = 0
3for i in range(1, 5):

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Quick Questions

1. What does range(5) produce?
A. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
B. 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 ✓
range() starts at 0 by default and stops before the number given
2. What does range(2, 5) produce?
A. 2, 3, 4, 5
B. 2, 3, 4 ✓
range(start, stop) — the stop value is excluded
3. Is the stop value included in range()?
A. No it stops before it ✓
B. Yes always included
range(2, 5) gives 2, 3, 4 — it stops BEFORE 5
4. What does range(0, 10, 2) produce?
A. 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 ✓
B. 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10
Step of 2, stopping before 10 — so 10 is excluded
5. What does range(3, 0, -1) produce?
A. 3, 2, 1 ✓
B. 3, 2, 1, 0
Stop is 0, which is excluded — count down stops at 1

Match the Pairs

range(1.5, 10) → Error: range() needs integers
for i in range(5, 1): print(i) → Error: No output — step needed
range(2, 8, 2) → Valid: 2, 4, 6
range(5, 0, -1) → Ok: Counts down 5,4,3,2,1
print(list(range(3))) → Output: [0, 1, 2]
print(list(range(1,6))) → Output: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Key Term

range(stop)
Creates numbers from 0 up to but not including stop.~~range(start, stop)

Fill in the Blanks

1. for i in range(5): print(i)
2. for i in range(1, 6): print(i) # prints 1,2,3,4,5
3. for i in range(0, 10, 2): print(i) # counts by 2
4. for i in range(5, 0, -1): print(i) # counts down
5. for i in range(1, 6): print(i) # starts at 1

Spot the Error

Question 1
A # Print numbers 1 to 5
B total = 0
C for i in range(1, 5):
D print(i)
E total += i
Line C — range(1, 5) stops before 5: use range(1, 6) to include 5
Question 2
A # Count down from 10 to 1
B for i in range(10, 0):
C print(i)
D print('Done!')
Line B — To count down, you need a negative step: range(10, 0, -1)
Question 3
A # Print integers 1 to 4
B for i in range(1.0, 5.0):
C print(i)
D print('Done!')
Line B — range() only works with integers: not floats like 1.0
Question 4
A total = 0
B for i in Range(5):
C total += i
D print('Sum:', total)
Line B — range is lowercase: Range is not a valid function
Question 5
A total = 0
B for i in range[5]:
C total += i
D print('Sum:', total)
Line B — range uses parentheses (), not square brackets []

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