Challenge of the Month - June 2012

Question

Welcome to the monthly SmallBasic Challenge! 

These challenges are intended for people who are learning to program or for more experienced programmers who want to start using SmallBasic after using a different language.  Some will be easy, some will be hard - but they will all make you think, and more importantly be GREAT FUN!

Please post your solutions / partial solutions / questions / feedback etc. into this thread that will remain 'sticky' for the month.  The only rule is that your solution must use standard SmallBasic methods (no extensions).

It would be good if people could post their problems with these challenges so that a discussion can start so that everyone can learn from each other.

Text Challenge - Repeat (no answers last month)

Write a program to read in and spell-check a sentence of text from a user.

Hint: Use the Dictionary method as a spell checker to find any miss-spelt words and highlight these for the user.

Graphical Challenge

Make a picture of a rainbow by drawing shapes on the GraphicsWindow.

Physics Challenge

Calculate the level that a boat will sit in the water as you add cargo to it.

Hint: Assume the boat has a length of 50m and width of 5m and has vertical sides, and its unloaded mass is 100 tonnes.

If cargo crates are 2x2x5 m and weigh 5 tonnes each, how many crates can it hold to not exceed a total draft of 4m.

If you want, also do a graphical display of the boat and crates to scale as it is loaded.

Maths Challenge

Write a program to accurately calculate the cube root of an input number (between 1 and 1000) without using any of the Math methods.

I am running out of original ideas so if anyone wants to do some future 'Challenge of the Month' and give a new perspective or variety then please make a post.

Answer 1

Maybe an idea for a challenge would be to retrieve mail from an online account and save it to a text dcument r something.

Also make a DOS that is very basic, or a text based game, maybe like zork.

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“Computers are like Old Testament gods: lots of rules and no mercy.” – Joseph Campbell

Answer 2

Challenge Idea: Create a program in Small Basic that implements a One-Time-Pad cipher.

Answer 3

Here is my solution of the math problem.

As is explained in the program, the last digit is rounded down.

It is possible that an increase of the last digit by 1 is closer to the real answer

'' calculation of the cuberoot of a number from 1 to 1000
'' 2012-06-03  cuberoot.sb

TextWindow.WriteLine("   The number must lie between 1 and 1000, doesn't need to be integer")
TextWindow.WriteLine("")
TextWindow.Write("Give the number to calculate the cuberoot of: ")
number=TextWindow.ReadNumber()
TextWindow.WriteLine("")

answ=0
mult=1
For i=1 To 13  ''number of digits; the last digit is rounded down!
  For j= 9 To 0 Step -1
    jj=answ+j*mult
    j3=jj*jj*jj
    if j3<=number then
      answ=answ+j*mult
      j=-1
    EndIf
  EndFor  ''j
  mult=0.1*mult
EndFor  ''i
TextWindow.Write("  The cube root of  "+number+" is: ")
TextWindow.WriteLine(answ)
TextWindow.WriteLine("")
TextWindow.Write("The third power of this answer is :")
answ=answ*answ*answ
TextWindow.WriteLine(answ) 
TextWindow.WriteLine("")
   

Answer 4

WhTurner33,

An inventive method and it works well.

Answer 5

My Graphical Challenge: DZC358

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Nonki Takahashi

Answer 6

Physics Challenge    RTL937

Answer 7

Nonki & NaochanON,

2 very good answers.

Answer 8

Text Challenge

LPX256

It's done but i'm having the weirdest problem, i can seem to put it to work if i change the window size, please feel free to give it a shot ;)

Also, it take's a bit to check the sentence if you have a slow IC like me

  GraphicsWindow.Width = 415
  GraphicsWindow.Height = 460

Problem Solved by litdev

final version here

XGJ413

Answer 9

Mike,

The ButtonClicked event is fired when a button is clicked, there is no need to check the mouse position, since the program already knows it was clicked - it couldn't be clicked if the mouse wasn't over the button at the time it was clicked!

There are methods like Controls.LastClickedButton to identify which of several buttons were pressed - in your case only one.

So we just need:

Sub CheckMousePosition
  ButtonSpellCheckAction()
EndSub

The reason the effect changed with the window size is probably that Mouse.MouseX is the coordinate on the screen and you would want GraphicsWindow.MouseX which is the coordinate in the GraphicsWindow.

Answer 10

thank you litdev, initially i had 2 buttons so i used the x and y mouse position to tell witch button i was pressing but i had forgotten about the LastClickedButton method witch would have made things so much more easy!

btw about new challenges i got a neat idea, draw your name using the turtle methods only! Draw your name in 3D for a full challenge ^^

Answer 11

My Maths Challenge : FNK878

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Nonki Takahashi

Answer 12

This is my idea of future Challenge:

(1) Generate a maze

(2) Solve the maze with Turtle

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Nonki Takahashi

Answer 13

My Physics Challenge : TZK617

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Nonki Takahashi

Answer 14

My Physics Challenge : TZK617

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Nonki Takahashi

This is a front view of the boat!

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Nonki Takahashi

Answer 15

This is my idea of future Challenge:

(1) Generate a maze

(2) Solve the maze with Turtle

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Nonki Takahashi

This is a sample shot.  But the maze is not complete.

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Nonki Takahashi

Answer 16

NaochanON,

Animation! A lot of fun!

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Nonki Takahashi

Answer 17

My ideas of future Challenge:

4),5),7),12),15)..... maybe necessary to get mouse moving speed.

Answer 18

NaochanON,

Would you like to do next month's challenge.  If you fancy it, then create a new discussion thread with the same sort of format as the current one on the start of July and I will make it sticky.  Try to add a couple basic programming challenges as well, i.e. something suitable for children around 12-14 or those just starting out.

If you are going to do it, then let me know so we don't both create something.

Cheers.

Answer 19

NaochanON,

Would you like to do next month's challenge.  If you fancy it, then create a new discussion thread with the same sort of format as the current one on the start of July and I will make it sticky.  Try to add a couple basic programming challenges as well, i.e. something suitable for children around 12-14 or those just starting out.

  OK, I'll try it.  Underline points,   I will consider some proposals by the end of June.

Answer 20

Graphics challange.

Angle2 = 180
Radius = 200
dx = 200
r = 1
color[1] = "Red"
color[2] = "Orange"
color[3] = "Yellow"
color[4] = "Green"
color[5] = "Blue"
color[6] = "indigo"
color[7] = "Violet"
Restart:
dan = .1
While r < 8
  Angle = Math.GetRadians(Angle2)
  Angle2 = Angle2 + dan
  If Angle2 > 360 - r Then
    Angle2 = 180 + R
    dan = 0
    dx = dx + 1
    r = r + 1
    Radius = Radius - 1
    Goto Restart
    EndIf
  x = Radius * Math.Cos(Angle) + 200
y = Radius * Math.Sin(Angle) + dx
  GraphicsWindow.SetPixel(x,y,color[r])
  EndWhile

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Zock77

Answer 21

Nice method, here's mine:

color[1] = "Red"
color[2] = "Orange"
color[3] = "Yellow"
color[4] = "Green"
color[5] = "Blue"
color[6] = "indigo"
color[7] = "Violet"

gw = 600
gh = 600
GraphicsWindow.Width = gw
GraphicsWindow.Height = gh
GraphicsWindow.BackgroundColor = "LightBlue"
xCentre = gw/2
yCentre = gh/2
width = 10
size = gw/3

For i = 1 To 7
  radius = size - (i-1)*width
  GraphicsWindow.BrushColor = color[i]
  GraphicsWindow.FillEllipse(xCentre-radius,yCentre-radius,2*radius,2*radius)
EndFor

radius = size - (i-1)*width
GraphicsWindow.BrushColor = GraphicsWindow.BackgroundColor
GraphicsWindow.FillEllipse(xCentre-radius,yCentre-radius,2*radius,2*radius)
GraphicsWindow.FillRectangle(0,yCentre,gw,gh-yCentre)

Answer 22

Here is my source code for the graphical challenge. And when I was working on the Math Challenge I found another way to do it much more accurately. Basically, I told it to take the imput number(the number that you are trying to find the cubic root of) set it as variable x and If it was 1 return a value of 1. If it was < 1 to then start generating values for y from 0 to 1 with a step of .000001. Next, If it was > 1 I made it generate values for y between 1 and 10 with a step of .000001. Finally i said if y * y * y = x then writeline y. The only problem with this method is sometimes there was not a number with 6 decimal points that could be cubed to equal x. If more 0's were added before the 1 in the decimal it would increase the accuracy but it would also take much longer to generate. If anyone has a solution to this it would be most appreciated. Also, I don't know if small basic can do exponets because this is what i tried first. I said the input number is x and then i tried to multiply x to the 1/3 power. I know small basic can do this by using Math.Power, but when i tried x * ^1/3 I couldnt make it work. If anybody knows how to do this it would be another soultion to the math challenge. I look forward to somebodys reply... So finally here is the code for my rainbow. :)

GraphicsWindow.Show()
GraphicsWindow.BackgroundColor = "LightBlue"
GraphicsWindow.Width = Desktop.Width
GraphicsWindow.Height = Desktop.Height
GraphicsWindow.Top = 0
GraphicsWindow.Left = -5
GraphicsWindow.CanResize = "True"
GraphicsWindow.BrushColor = "Red"
GraphicsWindow.FillEllipse(0,Desktop.Height - 350,Desktop.Width,Desktop.Width)
GraphicsWindow.BrushColor = "Orange"
GraphicsWindow.FillEllipse(40,Desktop.Height - 310,Desktop.Width - 80,Desktop.Width - 80)
GraphicsWindow.BrushColor = "Yellow"
GraphicsWindow.FillEllipse(80,Desktop.Height - 270,Desktop.Width - 160,Desktop.Width - 160)
GraphicsWindow.BrushColor = "LimeGreen"
GraphicsWindow.FillEllipse(120,Desktop.Height - 230,Desktop.Width - 240,Desktop.Width - 240)
GraphicsWindow.BrushColor = "Blue"
GraphicsWindow.FillEllipse(160,Desktop.Height - 190,Desktop.Width - 320,Desktop.Width - 320)
GraphicsWindow.BrushColor = "Indigo"
GraphicsWindow.FillEllipse(200,Desktop.Height - 150,Desktop.Width - 400,Desktop.Width - 400)
GraphicsWindow.BrushColor = "Violet"
GraphicsWindow.FillEllipse(240,Desktop.Height - 110,Desktop.Width - 480,Desktop.Width - 480)
GraphicsWindow.BrushColor = "White"
GraphicsWindow.FillEllipse(280,Desktop.Height - 70,Desktop.Width - 560,Desktop.Width - 560)
GraphicsWindow.BrushColor = "White"
NumGenerator:
Num = Math.GetRandomNumber(240)
If Num > 30 Then
  Goto Clouds
Elseif Num < 30 Then
  Goto NumGenerator
  Clouds:
GraphicsWindow.FillEllipse(10,Num - 40,60,60)
GraphicsWindow.FillEllipse(40,Num - 15,60,60)
GraphicsWindow.FillEllipse(60,Num - 35,60,60)
GraphicsWindow.FillEllipse(80,Num - 20,60,60)
GraphicsWindow.FillEllipse(38,Num,60,60)
GraphicsWindow.FillEllipse(95,Num - 40,60,60)
GraphicsWindow.FillEllipse(95,Num - 10,60,60)
EndIf

I added a cloud that appears in a random location above the rainbow and a blue sky background because I felt it was too simple without it.

Answer 23

Good rainbow and I like the cloud.

This calculates the cube root to the full accuracy of SmallBasic numbers (16 bytes - or about 28 significant figures):

'Simple Newton method calculation of cube root
cube = 300
accuracy = 0
cubeRoot()
TextWindow.WriteLine("The cube root of "+cube+" is "+ x)
TextWindow.WriteLine("Error = "+F+" in "+iter+" iterations")

Sub cubeRoot
  F = 1
  x = 1
  iter = 0
  While ((F < -accuracy Or F > accuracy) And iter < 100)
    F = x*x*x-cube
    dFdx = 3*x*x
    dx = -F/dFdx
    x = x+dx
    iter = iter+1
  EndWhile
EndSub

Answer 24

Graphical Challenge    NJJ207

It rains,   makes puddles, and finally rainbow appears.  

Answer 25

I've solved the graphics challenge: HNH634

Should adjust itself to different screen resolutions.

I'm enjoying this...

Any fun changes anyone can think of?

Robin.

Answer 26

I tried playing around with the code and came up with the following: HNH634-0

This demonstrates what to me seems like a problem with the way shapes and images are handled in MSB. Why does a shape have to be added to the graphics window when it is assigned to a variable? Wouldn't it make more sense either to have position parameters for shapes.add, or to not display until shapes.move was used?

Does anyone know a way around this?

I've looked at code for the game Stargates, where images are moved off screen immediately until needed, but I think they appear for a brief moment before being moved.

Robin.

Answer 27

How about this , HNH634-1

graphicswindow hide

make shapes -->  hide shapes  --> 

grapwindow show

repeat    show shapes -->  hide shapes 

Answer 28

Hi Robin!

When a shape is created ( or a control ), SB generates a unique type name for it.
But there are many myths about on what really happens!  :P

Let's take this example bellow:

Shapes.AddEllipse(50,40)

It draws an ellipse and returns a name.
In this case we haven't assigned a variable to record its name, so it gets lost!
But its name still exists, we just need to figure out what it was!

The truth is: the 1st ellipse shape name generated is always "Ellipse1".
You can check this fact this way:

GraphicsWindow.DrawText( 100,50  Shapes.AddEllipse(50,40) )

So, we are not "obliged" to store their names in variables, as long as we count the order on which each one is generated!
It's just for convenience! :D

Here's another code which controls the ellipse shapes w/o storing their generated names:

For i = 1 To 10
  GraphicsWindow.DrawText( 100,i*40+10  Shapes.AddEllipse(50,40) )
  Shapes.Move( "Ellipse" + i  50, i*40 )
EndFor

Now, for the issue of shapes showing up while they are being created, the most we can do is move them ASAP to off-screen coordinates:

Shapes.Move( shape,  -100,-100 )

Or then use GraphicsWindow.Hide() until they're ready.

Well, that's all I wanted to say! ^_^

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Click on "Propose As Answer" if some post solves your problem or "Vote As Helpful" if some post has been useful to you! (^_^)

Answer 29

I like this idea! It could be very challenging though, I reckon, especially if the theory of mazes is a new subject!

I found the following webpage that I think will give me a starting point: http://www.mazeworks.com/mazegen/mazetut/index.htm

Robin.

Answer 30

I have another idea for a challenge: a French translator using dictionary command?

Answer 31

In anticipation of next month's challenge(?), I've written this: NRW874.
Any feedback welcome, including improvements, alternative solutions, words of encouragement, or explantions of occasional random blue squares!

Answer 32

How about 

1)using blue-rectangle-shapes?

2)If left mousebutton -->  Erase( setopacity=0) & OnOFF[r][c]=0

   if right mousebutton -->  draw ( setopacity=100) & OnOFF[r][c]=1

 *you can remake a maze easily.

3)save  OnOff [r][c] data    as   txt file

 * you can reload past maze data  

4) reload past maze

Answer 33

In anticipation of next month's challenge(?), I've written this: NRW874.
Any feedback welcome, including improvements, alternative solutions, words of encouragement, or explantions of occasional random blue squares!

Feedback:

(1) Interesting!

(2) I think better that rows and columns will be odd numbers.

(3) I think better that mouseDownEvent doesn't have "For" loops.

(4) Following picture is my sample initial grids.  How about?

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Nonki Takahashi

(4) is an idea only for manual maze making, not good for auto maze building.

Answer 34

I like this idea! It could be very challenging though, I reckon, especially if the theory of mazes is a new subject!

I found the following webpage that I think will give me a starting point: http://www.mazeworks.com/mazegen/mazetut/index.htm

Robin.

Robin, good hint!

I could confirm that DFS algorithm easily to make maze automatically!  

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Nonki Takahashi

Answer 35

Hi Nonki,

Thanks for your input. I'm quite new to this, and I struggled to find a way to detect that the mouse was being clicked within a certain cell. Any suggestions about how  to do this without the For loops? Also, could I see your code for the image above?

Robin.

Answer 36

Hi Nonki,

Thanks for your input. I'm quite new to this, and I struggled to find a way to detect that the mouse was being clicked within a certain cell. Any suggestions about how  to do this without the For loops? Also, could I see your code for the image above?

Robin.

I modified your code and published as NRW874-0.

I wrote automated maze generation also, but you can change the maze by mouse after generation.

If you need the image above, please comment in lines 27 to 31.

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Nonki Takahashi

Answer 37

I have an another idea for future challenge:

Show graphical abacus with digital display and beads will be moved with mouse click.

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Following picture is a sample image created with Excel.

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Nonki Takahashi

Answer 38

Nice!  (いいね！）

Answer 39

Future Text Challenge Idea : Indent program for Small Basic.

Example:

Input source:

For i = 1 To 10

TextWindow.Write(i + " ")

EndFor

TextWindow.WriteLine("")

Output:

For i = 1 To 10

  TextWindow.Write(i + " ")

EndFor

TextWindow.WriteLine("")

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Nonki Takahashi

Answer 40

Nonki,

Do you want to do next month's challenges.  If so, please let me know and try to think up some easy challenges as well as harder ones.

Answer 41

litdev,

OK, I'd like to do so.

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Nonki Takahashi

Answer 42

Nonki,

Can you set it a little early (on or before Tuesday 24 July) since I won't be around for a couple of weeks to make it sticky - if not I will create an empty sticky thread and you can add your challenges as the first reply to the thread.

Thanks.

Answer 43

litdev,

OK, I'll create new thread as soon as possible.

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Nonki Takahashi

Answer 44

I sought a further reality: DZC358-1.

Original photo is by Evan Leeson

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic License.

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Nonki Takahashi