Python: Find the number of stones in each pile

Last update on April 17 2025 13:03:15 (UTC/GMT +8 hours)

Stone Piles Distribution

We are making n stone piles! The first pile has n stones. If n is even, then all piles have an even number of stones. If n is odd, all piles have an odd number of stones. Each pile must more stones than the previous pile but as few as possible. Write a Python program to find the number of stones in each pile.

Input:  2
Output:
[2, 4]

Input:  10
Output:
[10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28]

Input: 3
Output:
[3, 5, 7]

Input: 17
Output:
[17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49]

Visual Presentation:

Python: Find the number of stones in each pile.

Sample Solution:

Python Code:

# License: https://bit.ly/3oLErEI

# Define a function named 'test' that takes an integer 'n' as input
def test(n):
    # Use a list comprehension to generate a list of values: n + 2 * i for i in the range from 0 to n-1
    return [n + 2 * i for i in range(n)]

# Assign a specific integer 'n' to the variable
n = 2

# Print the number of piles
print("Number of piles:", n)

# Print the header for the output
print("Number of stones in each pile:")

# Print the result of the test function applied to the integer 'n'
print(test(n))

# Assign a different integer 'n' to the variable
n = 10

# Print the number of piles
print("\nNumber of piles:", n)

# Print the header for the output
print("Number of stones in each pile:")

# Print the result of the test function applied to the modified integer 'n'
print(test(n))

# Assign another integer 'n' to the variable
n = 3

# Print the number of piles
print("\nNumber of piles:", n)

# Print the header for the output
print("Number of stones in each pile:")

# Print the result of the test function applied to the modified integer 'n'
print(test(n))

# Assign yet another integer 'n' to the variable
n = 17

# Print the number of piles
print("\nNumber of piles:", n)

# Print the header for the output
print("Number of stones in each pile:")

# Print the result of the test function applied to the modified integer 'n'
print(test(n))

Sample Output:

Number of piles: 2
Number of stones in each pile:
[2, 4]

Number of piles: 10
Number of stones in each pile:
[10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28]

Number of piles: 3
Number of stones in each pile:
[3, 5, 7]

Number of piles: 17
Number of stones in each pile:
[17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39

Flowchart:

For more Practice: Solve these Related Problems:

Write a Python program that, given an integer n, outputs a list of n stone piles starting at n and increasing by 2 if n is odd or by 2 if n is even.
Write a Python program to generate n stone piles where each pile has the minimal number of stones greater than the previous one, maintaining parity with the first pile.
Write a Python program to compute the sequence of stone piles where if n is even all piles are even, and if n is odd all piles are odd, with each subsequent pile incremented by 2.
Write a Python program that verifies the condition by generating a list of n piles starting from n and ensuring the difference between consecutive piles is exactly 2.

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Python Code Editor :

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