Codehs 4.7.11 Rock Paper Scissors

CodeHS 4.7.11 Rock Paper Scissors: A Comprehensive Guide

This guide delves into CodeHS 4.7.11 Rock Paper Scissors, providing a complete walkthrough, explanations, and advanced concepts to help you master this classic game. We'll cover the fundamental programming logic, explore different approaches to coding the game, and address common challenges students encounter. This comprehensive guide aims to not only help you complete the CodeHS assignment but also build a strong foundation in fundamental programming concepts like conditional statements, random number generation, and user input.

Understanding the Fundamentals: Rock, Paper, Scissors

Before diving into the code, let's refresh our understanding of the game. Rock Paper Scissors is a simple hand game for two or more players. Each player simultaneously chooses one of three gestures: rock, paper, or scissors. The winner is determined by the following rules:

• Rock crushes Scissors: Rock wins against Scissors.
• Scissors cuts Paper: Scissors wins against Paper.
• Paper covers Rock: Paper wins against Rock.
• Same gesture: If both players choose the same gesture, it's a tie.

CodeHS 4.7.11: Breaking Down the Assignment

The CodeHS 4.7.11 assignment challenges you to create a Rock Paper Scissors game using a programming language (likely JavaScript in this context). The game should:

1. Get user input: Prompt the player to choose their gesture (rock, paper, or scissors).
2. Generate computer choice: Randomly select a gesture for the computer.
3. Determine the winner: Use conditional statements (if, else if, else) to compare the player's and computer's choices and declare a winner (or tie).
4. Display the result: Show the player's choice, the computer's choice, and the outcome of the game.

Step-by-Step Implementation in JavaScript

Let's implement the Rock Paper Scissors game in JavaScript. This example assumes you're familiar with basic JavaScript syntax and concepts. If you're not, please refer to introductory JavaScript tutorials before proceeding.

// Get user input
let playerChoice = prompt("Choose rock, paper, or scissors:");
playerChoice = playerChoice.toLowerCase(); // Convert to lowercase for case-insensitivity

// Generate computer choice
let computerChoice = Math.random();
if (computerChoice < 0.34) {
  computerChoice = "rock";
} else if (computerChoice < 0.67) {
  computerChoice = "paper";
} else {
  computerChoice = "scissors";
}

// Determine the winner
let result;
if (playerChoice === computerChoice) {
  result = "It's a tie!";
} else if (playerChoice === "rock") {
  if (computerChoice === "scissors") {
    result = "You win! Rock crushes scissors.";
  } else {
    result = "You lose! Paper covers rock.";
  }
} else if (playerChoice === "paper") {
  if (computerChoice === "rock") {
    result = "You win! Paper covers rock.";
  } else {
    result = "You lose! Scissors cuts paper.";
  }
} else if (playerChoice === "scissors") {
  if (computerChoice === "paper") {
    result = "You win! Scissors cuts paper.";
  } else {
    result = "You lose! Rock crushes scissors.";
  }
} else {
  result = "Invalid choice. Please enter rock, paper, or scissors.";
}

// Display the result
console.log("You chose: " + playerChoice);
console.log("Computer chose: " + computerChoice);
console.log(result);

This code first prompts the user for their choice using prompt(). It then uses Math.random() to generate a random number between 0 and 1, which is mapped to one of the three choices ("rock", "paper", "scissors"). The nested if-else if-else statements compare the choices and determine the winner. Finally, the result is displayed using console.log().

Enhancing the Game: Advanced Features

The basic implementation above fulfills the core requirements. However, we can enhance it significantly by adding features like:

• Input Validation: The current code handles invalid input somewhat, but we can improve it by using a loop to repeatedly prompt the user until a valid input is received.

• Error Handling: Adding more robust error handling for unexpected inputs or situations.

• User Interface: Instead of using the console, we can create a more user-friendly interface using HTML and CSS. This could involve creating buttons for each choice and displaying the result in a designated area on the webpage.

• Multiple Rounds: Allow the player to play multiple rounds and keep track of the score.

• Game Statistics: Track win/loss/tie statistics over multiple games.

Improved Code with Enhanced Features

Let's incorporate some of these enhancements:

function playRound() {
  let playerChoice;
  do {
    playerChoice = prompt("Choose rock, paper, or scissors:").toLowerCase();
  } while (!["rock", "paper", "scissors"].includes(playerChoice));

  let computerChoice = ["rock", "paper", "scissors"][Math.floor(Math.random() * 3)];

  let result = determineWinner(playerChoice, computerChoice);

  alert("You chose: " + playerChoice + "\nComputer chose: " + computerChoice + "\n" + result);
}


function determineWinner(player, computer) {
  if (player === computer) return "It's a tie!";
  if (
    (player === "rock" && computer === "scissors") ||
    (player === "paper" && computer === "rock") ||
    (player === "scissors" && computer === "paper")
  )
    return "You win!";
  else return "You lose!";
}

let playAgain = true;
while (playAgain) {
  playRound();
  playAgain = confirm("Play again?");
}

This improved version uses a do...while loop for input validation, a separate function (determineWinner) for cleaner code, and confirm() to ask the player if they want to play again. This showcases improved code structure and readability.

Scientific Explanation: Random Number Generation

The core of the computer's choice lies in the Math.random() function. This function generates a pseudo-random number between 0 (inclusive) and 1 (exclusive). This means the output is always a number greater than or equal to 0 and strictly less than 1. We then use conditional statements or a more efficient approach (as seen in the improved code) to map this random number to one of the three choices.

The term "pseudo-random" is crucial here. Computers cannot generate truly random numbers; they use algorithms to produce sequences of numbers that appear random but are actually deterministic. For most applications, including games like Rock Paper Scissors, pseudo-random numbers are sufficient.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What if the user enters an invalid input?

A: The improved code handles this by using a do...while loop to repeatedly prompt the user until a valid choice ("rock," "paper," or "scissors") is entered.

Q: How can I make the game more visually appealing?

A: You can create a graphical user interface (GUI) using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. This would involve designing the layout of the game using HTML, styling it with CSS, and using JavaScript to handle user interactions and game logic.

Q: Can I incorporate other gestures into the game?

A: Yes, you can easily extend the game to include more gestures. You would need to adjust the random number generation and the logic for determining the winner to accommodate the additional choices.

Q: How can I implement a scoring system?

A: You can add variables to track the player's score and the computer's score. Increment the appropriate score based on the outcome of each round. Display the scores at the end of each round or at the end of the game.

Conclusion

CodeHS 4.7.11 Rock Paper Scissors is a fantastic exercise in learning basic programming concepts. By understanding the fundamental logic, implementing the code, and exploring advanced features, you'll gain valuable experience in programming with JavaScript, particularly in handling user input, using conditional statements, and working with random number generation. Remember that the key to mastering programming is practice and experimentation. Don't hesitate to modify and extend this code to explore further possibilities and enhance your understanding. The journey of learning to code is a continuous process of learning, experimenting, and improving. Keep coding!