Chapter 5: Problem 8

What is an infinite loop?

Short Answer

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Answer: An infinite loop is a situation in programming where a loop executes indefinitely due to its exit condition never being satisfied. It can occur due to incorrect loop conditions, forgotten updates of loop control variables, or intentional designs to keep the program running indefinitely. Consequences of infinite loops include unresponsive programs, high CPU usage, and potential system crashes or hang-ups. It is crucial to test programs thoroughly and ensure correct conditions and updates within loops.

Step by step solution

Definition of an infinite loop

An infinite loop occurs when a programming construct, such as a loop (for, while, or do-while loop), is designed to execute its statements an unlimited number of times. The loop never terminates because the condition that exits the loop never becomes true or because the loop is designed to never reach its terminating condition.

Causes of an infinite loop

Infinite loops usually occur due to one of the following reasons: 1. Incorrect loop condition: The condition for the loop to exit is either not defined or defined incorrectly, preventing the loop from ever being satisfied. 2. Forgotten update: The loop control variable is not updated within the loop, causing it to never reach the exit condition. 3. Intentional design: In some situations, infinite loops are created intentionally to keep a program running indefinitely until an external force, such as a user or a system event, breaks the loop.

Example of an infinite loop

Here is an example of an infinite loop in C programming language using a while loop: ```c #include int main() { int i = 1; while (i <= 10) { printf("This is an infinite loop\n"); // Forgot to update the value of i to reach the exit condition } return 0; } ``` The loop will keep executing and printing "This is an infinite loop" indefinitely because the value of 'i' is never updated, and it will always be less than or equal to 10.

Consequences of infinite loops

Infinite loops can lead to various issues in a program, such as: 1. Unresponsive program: An infinite loop can cause a program to become unresponsive, leading to a bad user experience. 2. High CPU usage: As the loop constantly runs without stopping, it can lead to high CPU usage and, in some cases, overheating of the computer. 3. System crash or hang: In severe cases, infinite loops can cause the entire system to crash or hang, leading to data loss or a forced restart of the computer. To avoid such issues, it is crucial to thoroughly test a program and ensure that all conditions are correctly defined and updated within loops.

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What is an infinite loop?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Definition of an infinite loop

Causes of an infinite loop

Example of an infinite loop

Consequences of infinite loops

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