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Trace a while loop one pass per line

Practice: Asking for a format you can use. About 5 minutes.

About this exercise

You're studying for a quiz on while loops. Ask for a trace of the program in exactly 3 numbered lines, one per pass, each like 'After pass 1: n = 10, count = 1', then one unnumbered line 'Prints: <what it prints>'. No code blocks and no explanation, under 50 words.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Getting an explanation. Asked to explain, the AI writes paragraphs about while loops instead of a trace you can check against yours. Try: Say: "Exactly 3 numbered lines, one per pass, no explanation."
  • No line shape. Without an example, each line looks different and is hard to compare. Try: Show it: "After pass 1: n = 10, count = 1".
  • No final answer line. The AI may not say clearly what gets printed. Try: Add: "Then one line: Prints: <output>."
  • Code you don't need. The AI may rewrite the program with print statements inside. Try: Add: "No code."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Shows the line shape
  • Sets the number of lines
  • Asks for the output line
  • Rules out explanation

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