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    Lab 6: More loops (and lists)
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# Lab 6 

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## [Solutions](/content/labs/lab06/solutions)
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## [Worksheet solns](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_gVBPn_rGn0K3mBtgRrFFxoPUf08fSCS9kG89AaY4mY/edit?usp=sharing)
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## Goals <a href="/content/labs/lab06/solutions/">&nbsp;</a>
+ Practice debugging techniques for loops
+ Extra practice with `for` loops and/or `while` loops
+ Practice *for loops* using turtle graphics (optional)


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## Big Questions {.bigqs}

- *What is a "helper function?"*
  <details class="answer">
    <summary>Show Answer</summary>
    A "helper function" is an extra function defined to solve some part of a
    larger problem, often beyond what is required in the problem description
    (although required functions can technically be helper functions too). For
    example, in the rock-paper-scissors task, we required you to write a
    function called randomGesture that returns a random gesture. To play
    rock-paper-scissors, this funciton isn't necessary: we could just use the
    code from it within our playComputer function directly. But by creating a
    helper function for this purpose, our code becomes more modular and it's
    easier to test many smaller components separately. Oftentimes, a helper
    function can serve as a conceptual strategy in probelm solving: when things
    are getting too complicated to think of a solution, you can imagine a
    function that would help simplfy the current problem, and then write that
    function as a helper function and come back to the larger problem once
    you've solved the smaller one.
  </details>
- *What is an "infinite loop" and how can you avoid creating one?*
  <details class="answer">
    <summary>Show Answer</summary>
    An "infinite loop" is a loop that never ends, in most cases it is a while
    loop where the loop condition never ends up being False. To avoid infinite
    loops, makes sure that the code in your loop changes at least one variable
    that's used in the loop condition, and that it does so in a way that will
    eventually make that condition false. Also, if you know how many times you
    want to execute the loop, use a for loop instead of a while loop.
  </details>

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