Python Book Error: Solving a Math Problem with Aliens and Multiple Heads

  • Context: Python 
  • Thread starter Thread starter OrbitalPower
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Book Error Python
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
Sign up Log in
3 replies · 3K views
OrbitalPower
In python for the absolute beginner, we have this (page 28):

"If an alien has 3 heads, grows 1 more than double his total number of
heads, how many heads does the alien have?"

My formula is: (3 * 2) + 1

(For example, in this sequence, each sequential number is one more than double the next one: 2, 5, 11, 23, 47.)

but he gives (3 + 1) * 2 = 8. But he says one more than double his (current) total. So that seems incorrect.

Who is right?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Yes. That's right. The error was my own. It says "if an alien has 3 heads, grows 1 more THEN doubleS his total number of heads, how many heads does the alien have."

In fairness, I couldn't really see. That part of the program is only in the console window, not in the source code he gives (for some reason).
 
Maybe it's meant to say:
"If an alien has 3 heads, grows 1 more then doubles his total number of heads, how many heads does the alien have?"

It's awkwardly-phrased as it is.