Use Boolean Values as Integers

Darts
Darts in Python 
def score(x_coord, y_coord):
    radius = (x_coord**2 + y_coord**2)
    return (radius<=1)*5 + (radius<=25)*4 + (radius<=100)*1

In Python, the Boolean values True and False are subclasses of int and can be interpreted as 0 (False) and 1 (True) in a mathematical context. This approach leverages that interpretation by checking which areas the throw falls into and multiplying each Boolean int by a scoring multiple. For example, a throw that lands on the 25 (or 5 if using math.sqrt(x**2 + y**2)) circle should have a score of 5:

>>> (False)*5 + (True)*4 + (True)*1
5

This makes for very compact code and has the added boost of not requiring any loops or additional data structures. However, it is considered bad form to rely on Boolean interpretation. Instead, the Python documentation recommends an explicit conversion to int:

def score(x_coord, y_coord):
    radius = (x_coord**2 + y_coord**2)
    return int(radius<=1)*5 + int(radius<=25)*4 + int(radius<=100)*1

Beyond that recommendation, the terseness of this approach might be harder to reason about or decode — especially if a programmer is coming from a programming langauge that does not treat Boolean values as ints. Despite the "radius" variable name, it is also more difficult to relate the scoring "rings" of the Dartboard to the values being checked and calculated in the return statement. If using this code in a larger program, it would be strongly recommended that a docstring be provided to explain the Dartboard rings, scoring rules, and the corresponding scores.

9th Apr 2025 · Found it useful?

Other Approaches to Darts in Python

Other ways our community solved this exercise
import math

def score(x_coord, y_coord):
    distance = math.sqrt(x_coord**2 + y_coord**2)
    if distance <= 1: return 10
    if distance <= 5: return  5
    if distance <= 10: return  1
    return 0
Use If Statements

Use if-statements to check scoring boundaries for a dart throw. 

def score(x_coord, y_coord):
    distance = x_coord**2 + y_coord**2
    rules = (1.0, 10), (25.0, 5), (100.0, 1), (200.0, 0)

    for distance, point in rules:
        if length <= distance:
            return point
Use a Tuple & Loop through Scores

Score the Dart throw by looping through a tuple of scores. 

from math import hypot, ceil

def score(x, y):
    match ceil(hypot(x, y)):
        case 0 | 1: return 10
        case 2 | 3 | 4 | 5: return 5
        case 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10: return 1
        case _: return 0
Use Structural Pattern Matching ('Match-Case')

Use a Match-Case (Structural Pattern Matching) to score the dart throw.) 

def score(x_coord, y_coord):
    length = x_coord**2 + y_coord**2
    rules = {1.0: 10, 25.0: 5, 100.0: 1, 200: 0}
    score = max(point for
                distance, point in
                rules.items() if length <= distance)

    return score
Use a Dictionary with a Generator Expression

Use a generator expression looping over a scoring dictionary, getting the max score for the dart throw. 

def score(x_coord, y_coord):
    point = (x_coord**2 + y_coord**2)
    scores = {point <= 100: 1, point <= 25: 5, point <= 1: 10}

    return scores.get(True, 0)
Use a Dictionary with dict.get

Loop over a dictionary and retrieve score via dct.get.