While We Are Here...
Welcome to Part 8 of the RPL Programming Tutorial. Today, we will cover the WHILE-REPEAT-END programming structure. This structure is similar to the WHILE-WEND programming structure in BASIC. In this loop certain commands are repeated while a condition is true.
The WHILE-REPEAT-END structure looks like this:
WHILE this condition is met
REPEAT these instructions
END
The Program DBY2
This program takes the absolute number from the stack. As long as the number is greater than 1, the program keeps dividing the number by 2.
Note the use of DUP in this program. The DUP (Duplicate) command duplicates the contents of Level 1. It is necessary because tests consume the contents of levels 2 and 1.
[RS] [ + ] (<< >>)
[LS] [ ÷ ]
[LS] [EVAL] (PRG) [F1] (STACK) [F1] (DUP)
* The DUP command
[LS] [EVAL] (PRG) [F3] (BRCH) [LS] [F6] (WHILE)
* Enters the WHILE-REPEAT-END structure
1 [LS] [1/X] ≥
* Enters the while condition
[ &darr ] 2 [ ÷ ] [LS] [EVAL] (PRG) [F1] (STACK) [F1] (DUP)
* Enters the loop instructions
[EVAL] [ENTER]
* Simplifies the number and terminates program entry
[ ' ] [ALPHA] [ALPHA] [F4] (D) [F2] (B) [1/X] (Y) 2 [ENTER] [STO>]
The Complete Program:
<< ABS DUP
WHILE 1 ≥
REPEAT 2 / DUP
END EVAL >>
Instructions:
1. Enter a number.
2. Run DBY2.
Examples:
10 returns 5/8
96 returns 3/4
-105 returns 105/128
This concludes Part 8 of our tutorial. Next time, we will create custom menus. It's going to be a lot of fun! Until next time, Eddie.
This tutorial is property of Edward Shore. Mass duplication and reproduction requires express permission from the author.
