Longest Coin Streak | Program

2-minute read

For my CS 151 class, I made a program that simulates a given number of coin flips and determines the longest streak of heads and the longest streak of tails! There is likely a way to do this better, but I am quite happy with my solution. If you happen to be in this class with me, please follow the rules in the syllabus for academic integrity. No copying code and you must be able to explain every line.

# import statements
from random import randint

# function defintions
def flip():
    r = randint(0,1)
    if r == 1:
        return 'H'
    else:
        return 'T'


def simulate(numFlips):
    flips = []
    for i in range(numFlips):
        flips.append(flip())
    return flips

def countStreak(flips):
    headsStreak = 0
    tailsStreak = 0
    currentHeadsStreak = 0
    currentTailsStreak = 0

    lastFlip = flips[0]
    for flip in flips:
        if lastFlip == None:
            lastFlip = flip

        if flip == lastFlip and flip == 'H':
            currentHeadsStreak += 1
        if flip == lastFlip and flip == 'T':
            currentTailsStreak += 1
        if currentHeadsStreak > headsStreak:
            headsStreak = currentHeadsStreak
        if currentTailsStreak > tailsStreak:
            tailsStreak = currentTailsStreak
            
        elif flip != lastFlip and flip == 'H':
            if headsStreak == 0:
                headsStreak = currentHeadsStreak
            currentHeadsStreak = 1
            
        elif flip != lastFlip and flip == 'T':
            if tailsStreak == 0:
                tailsStreak = currentTailsStreak
            currentTailsStreak = 1

        lastFlip = flip

    print(f"The longest streak of Heads was {headsStreak}\nThe longest streak of Tails was {tailsStreak}")        


        

# Bonus
def countSix(flips):
    lastFlip = flips[0]
    headsStreak = 1
    for flip in flips:
        if lastFlip == None:
            lastFlip = flip
        if flip == lastFlip and flip == 'H':
            headsStreak += 1
        else:
            headsStreak = 1
        if headsStreak == 6:
            return True

        lastFlip = flip

    return False
    
if __name__ == "__main__":
    flips = simulate(100)
    print(f"List of flips:\n{flips}")
    countStreak(flips)

    print(f"Count Six Heads: {countSix(flips)}")