Print numbers from 1 to x where x is infinity in python

Question

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Python Infinity - Any caveats?
python unbounded xrange()

I have a question regarding Python where you code a simple script that prints a sequence of numbers from 1 to x where x is infinity. That means, "x" can be any value.

For example, if we were to print a sequence of numbers, it would print numbers from 1 to an "if " statement that says stop at number "10" and the printing process will stop.

In my current code, I'm using a "for" loop like this:

for x in range(0,100):
    print x

I'm trying to figure how can "100" in "range" be replaced with something else that will let the loop keep on printing sequences continuously without specifying a value. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

@Hedde I don't see how it's a duplicate or how the other question even helps. — Lev Levitsky, Dec 17 '12 at 13:07

score 14 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 17 '12 at 13:01

14

With itertools.count:

import itertools
for x in itertools.count():
    print x

With a simple while loop:

x = 0
while True:
    print x
    x += 1

answered Dec 17 '12 at 13:01

Lev Levitsky

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Grijesh Chauhan · Answer 2 · 2012-12-17T13:10:50.413

2

y can be a number.

for x in range(0,y):
    print x

you can't have y infinitely large or negative. Following example will be useful I think.

>>> for y in range(0,):
...     print y
... 
>>> 
>>> for y in range(0,1000000000000000):
...     print y
... 
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
OverflowError: range() result has too many items
>>> for y in range(0,-1):
...     print y
... 
>>>

edited Dec 17 '12 at 13:10

answered Dec 17 '12 at 13:03

Grijesh Chauhan

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I tried it, but an error appeared that said: "y is not defined" Thanks for the help – Max Wayne Dec 17 '12 at 13:06
There are no limits on how big a python "integer" can become -- It'll silently convert to a `long` and keep going until you run out of memory. – mgilson Dec 17 '12 at 13:07
@mgilson : I corrected the answer. I said python limit..that is out of memory...I don't think my answer misguide. Thanks – Grijesh Chauhan Dec 17 '12 at 13:12
@MaxWayne you have to first assign a value to y. e.g. `>>> y = 1000` then for loop statements. – Grijesh Chauhan Dec 17 '12 at 13:32

martineau · Answer 3 · 2012-12-18T18:38:26.447

2

You could do it with a generator:

def infinity(start=0):
    x = start
    while True:
        yield x
        x += 1

for x in infinity(1):
    print x

edited Dec 18 '12 at 18:38

answered Dec 17 '12 at 17:14

martineau

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score 0 · Answer 4 · edited Dec 17 '12 at 13:07

0

x=0
while True:
  print x
  x = x +1

edited Dec 17 '12 at 13:07

mgilson

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answered Dec 17 '12 at 13:04

Jimmy Kane

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I believe you wanted the incrementing inside the `while` loop. I've put it there. I also changed `While` to `while` to make it valid syntax. – mgilson Dec 17 '12 at 13:08
@mgilson yes thanks sorry typo – Jimmy Kane Dec 17 '12 at 13:09
`x = x +1` should be `x+=1` – Inbar Rose Dec 17 '12 at 13:09
1

@InbarRose -- `s/should/could/g` :-p -- Both will work, but your suggestion is probably a bit more idiomatic. – mgilson Dec 17 '12 at 13:10

Print numbers from 1 to x where x is infinity in python

4 Answers4