Use If Statements

Darts
Darts in Python 
import math

# Checks scores from the center --> edge.
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

This approach uses conditionals to check the boundaries for each scoring ring, returning the corresponding score. Calculating the euclidian distance is assigned to the variable "distance" to avoid having to re-calculate it for every if check. Because the if-statements are simple and readable, they're written on one line to shorten the function body. Zero is returned if no other check is true.

To avoid importing the math module (for a very very slight speedup), (x2 +y2) can be calculated instead, and the scoring rings can be adjusted to 1, 25, and 100:

# Checks scores from the center --> edge.
def score(x_coord, y_coord):
    distance = x_coord**2 + y_coord**2
    
    if distance <= 1: return 10
    if distance <= 25: return  5
    if distance <= 100: return  1
    
    return 0

import math

# Checks scores from the edge --> center
def score(x_coord, y_coord):
    distance = math.sqrt(x_coord**2 + y_coord**2)
    
    if distance > 10: return 0
    if 5 < distance <= 10: return 1
    if 1 < distance <= 5: return 5
    
    return 10

This variant checks from the edge moving inward, checking both a lower and upper bound due to the overlapping scoring circles in this direction.

Scores for any of these solutions can also be assigned to a variable to avoid multiple returns, but this isn't really necessary:

# Checks scores from the edge --> center
def score(x_coord, y_coord):
    distance = x_coord**2 + y_coord**2
    points = 10
    
    if distance > 100: points = 0
    if 25 < distance <= 100: points = 1
    if 1 < distance <= 25: points = 5
    
    return points
9th Apr 2025 · Found it useful?

Other Approaches to Darts in Python

Other ways our community solved this exercise
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):
    radius = (x_coord**2 + y_coord**2)
    return (radius<=1)*5 + (radius<=25)*4 +(radius<=100)*1
Use Boolean Values as Integers

Use True and False as integer values to calculate the score of 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.