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Slot Machine

A slot machine is just a random pick from a set of symbols, three times in a row. You already know random; now you'll store the symbols in a list and pull from it.

Overview

You'll build a Python list of symbols and write a slot function that prints three random symbols from it — a one-line jackpot generator.

You've got it when…

  • You have a list holding each of the slot symbols.
  • random.choice() pulls a random symbol from the list.
  • Your slot function prints three random symbols.

Collaboration & AI

Work: On your own. A neighbor can help, but write your own function.

AI — AIAS Level 1, No AI: Build the list and loop yourself. What the levels mean.

Create a List of Strings

Create a Python list of strings, with one string for each of these symbols:

🍒 🍋 🍊 🍉 🔔 💎 💲 🍀

Tip

Use the copy button on the block above to grab the symbols, then split them into separate strings in your list.

Random Selection

We used the random library before to pick random numbers with randint. Now we'll use another function from random named choice to pick a random item from a list.

Put this at the top of your file:

import random

Use it like this, where mylist is the name of your list variable:

item = random.choice(mylist)

Try writing code to print a random item from the list in the section above.

A Slot Machine

Write a function named slot:

  1. slot accepts a single argument: a list of symbol strings to choose from.
  2. Use a for loop with range() to repeat this three times:
    1. Make a random selection from the list.
    2. print the selected symbol to the screen.

Write a main program that creates the list from the first section, then passes it to your slot function.

Turn It In

  • Your Python (.py) file.

How It's Graded

This lab is worth up to 4 points. One score covers everything you turn in.

Score What it looks like
4 — Excellent Your list holds all eight symbols, slot takes the list as its argument and uses a for loop with range() to print three random.choice picks, and the main program builds the list and passes it in — the function works from what it's given, not from a global it happens to see.
3 — Above Average The machine spins correctly, with a minor slip — a symbol or two missing from the list, or an extra print cluttering the output.
2 — Average Three random symbols appear, but by copy-paste instead of a loop, or without a slot function taking the list.
1 — Below Average The list exists but little else runs.
0 — Failing Nothing submitted, or no evidence of the machine.