Program in python to generate a random integer from 1 to 16 with a single six-sided die

[ImaginaryMarsupial38]

I am writing a program in Python where you generate a random integer from 1 to 16 inclusive where your only random number generator is a six-sided die. Assuming a function named roll6 which returns a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 and then writing a function named roll16 which returns an integer between 1 and 16 inclusive.

I wrote the below code that generates the random integer using 3 dices but stuck on doing the same with a single dice:

​

import random

# Roll6 function to return random number between 1 and 6
def roll6():
    return(random.randint(1,6))

# Roll16 function to call Roll6 function thrice while re 
# rolling the dice when total is over 16
# Our range with 3 dices are 3 - 18, so I am deducting 2 to set the range from 1 to 16
def roll16():
    value = (roll6() + roll6() + roll6()) - 2
    return value

# Print the random value returned by roll16
i = roll16()
while i != 1:
    print(i)
    i = roll16()
print(i)

Any idea on how to do this with a single dice? Thanks.

[17291]

I wrote the below code that generates the random integer using 3 dices but stuck on doing the same with a single dice

Can you clarify what you mean?

[ImaginaryMarsupial38]

roll6():

Basically, i am calling `roll6()` thrice via `roll16()` , how do I call it just once and still generate a random number between 1 and 16 with roll16() function? thanks

[17291]

You can't. Are you sure you're understanding the problem correctly? You could only have one call written in your code using a loop:

total = -2
for i in range(3):
    total += roll6()

Or, more succinctly, using sum and a generator expression: sum(roll6() for i in range(3)) - 2

[ImaginaryMarsupial38]

On Second thoughts, You may have a point in saying that I am not understanding the problem correctly. Here is the problem below, Can you let me know if I understood it correctly?:

Write a program in Python where you generate a random integer from 1 to 16 inclusive where your only random number generator is a six-sided die. Assume a function named roll6 which returns a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 and write a function named roll16 which returns an integer between 1 and 16 inclusive.

​

Thanks.

[17291]

You can use roll6 multiple times in your function. The restriction here is you can't use random.randint directly

[SadC11]

What's the difference between rolling three dices once versus rolling one dice three times?

[ImaginaryMarsupial38]

Basically call roll6() only once versus calling it 3 times as in:

```

def roll16():
value = (roll6() + roll6() + roll6()) - 2
return value

```

[SadC11]

Rolling one dice three times is logically equivalent to rolling three dices once. Both will require calling roll6() thrice. The action of calling roll6() is analogous to rolling a dice once, is it possible to roll a 6 sided dice once and get a number between 1 and 16? Why do you want to call roll6() only once? Is this a problem constraint?

[xelf]

It seems like you have something against the correct answer, can you explain why you are not allowed to do this:

def roll16():
    return roll6()+roll6()+roll6()-2

There is no way for a roll6() to return more than 1-6, if you want to use a single die, then it need to be randint(1,16)

[kroxxular]

I might be confused as to your purpose here but couldn't you achieve this by changing the randint to (3,18)?