Recently I was reading through the official Python documentation when I came across the example on how to code the Fibonacci series as follows:
a, b = 0, 1
while a < 10:
print (a)
a, b = b, a + b
which outputs to 0,1,1,2,3,5,8
Since I've never used multiple assignment myself, I decided to hop into Visual Studio to figure out how it worked. I noticed that if I changed the notation to...
a = 0
b = 1
while a < 10:
print (a)
a, b = b, a + b
... the output remains the same.
However, if I change the notation to...
a = 0
b = 1
while a < 10:
print(a)
a = b
b = a + b
... the output changes to 0, 1, 2, 4, 8
The way I understand multiple assignments is that it shrinks what can be done into two lines into one. But obviously, this reasoning must be flawed if I can't apply this logic to the variables under the print(a) command.
It would be much appreciated if someone could explain why this is/what is wrong with my reasoning.
a = 0
b = 1
while a < 10:
print(a)
a = b
b = a + b
In this case, a becomes b and then b becomes the changed a + b
a, b = 0, 1
while a < 10:
print (a)
a, b = b, a+b
In this case, a becomes b and at the same time b becomes the original a + b.
That's why, in your case b becomes the new a + b, which, since a = b, basically means b = b + b. That's why the value of b doubles everytime.