This function defines a generator for the triangular numbers, $T_n = \sum_{k=1}^{n}k = 1 + 2 + 3 + \cdots + n$, for $n=0,1,2,\cdots$: that is, $T_n = 0, 1, 3, 6, 10, \cdots$.
>>> def triangular_numbers(n):
... i, t = 1, 0
... while i <= n:
... yield t
... t += i
... i += 1
...
>>> list(triangular_numbers(15))
[0, 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21, 28, 36, 45, 55, 66, 78, 91, 105]
Note that the statements after the yield
statement are executed each time triangular_numbers
resumes. The call to triangular_numbers(15)
returns an iterator which feeds these numbers into list
to generate a list of its values.