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Add input checks to your number guessing game

Practice: Setting limits and rules. About 5 minutes.

About this exercise

Your Python guessing game crashes when someone types 'abc'. Fix only get_guess so it keeps asking until it gets a whole number from 1 to 50, printing exactly 'Please type a whole number.' for non-numbers and 'Pick a number from 1 to 50.' for numbers out of range. Use a while True loop with try/except ValueError, no imports and no recursion (you haven't covered it). Return only get_guess in exactly 1 code block of at most 12 lines, with under 40 words of text.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Getting the whole program back. The AI reprints the full game and may 'improve' play() too. Try: Say: "Return only the get_guess function."
  • Not giving the messages. The AI writes its own error messages, which might not match what you want players to see. Try: Paste them: "Print exactly 'Please type a whole number.' and 'Pick a number from 1 to 50.'"
  • Code you haven't learned. The AI may call get_guess() again inside itself (recursion) or use extra tools. Try: Add: "Use while True with try/except ValueError. No recursion, no imports."
  • A long explanation. The AI explains try/except in detail. Try: Add: "Just the code block, one short sentence at most."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Asks for only the function
  • Gives the exact messages
  • Covers the out-of-range case
  • Says what you've learned
  • Limits the explanation

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