Computational Modeling
Fall 2005

For today, you should have:

1) copied down a whiteboard from last time, and added comments

2) done HomeworkTwo

3) got a Python book


Today's outline:

1) Python

2) the Pirate Problem

3) discussion of modeling -- What makes a good model?

4) trade books


For next time you should:

1) do HomeworkThree



Python crash course
-------------------

See notes01.txt


Pirates on a Plank
------------------

Analysis of k_pirates.py by Katie Rivard


# quick pirate "simulation" by Allen Downey

import random

n = 10
len = 100
runs = 10000

maxima = []
for j in range(runs):
    positions = [random.uniform(0, len) for i in range(n)]
    maxima.append(max(positions))
    
print sum(maxima)/runs
print 1.0 * n / (n+1) * len