Codechef python runtime error

Question

I always get a runtime error using python for submission on codechef. Can some one please help. Tried answering other questions too.. same error Works fine on my comp though!(I use python 2.6.5 on my comp. Answer is checked with python 2.5) This is an easy level question where i get Runtime error http://www.codechef.com/problems/FCTRL/

My code

import sys
def factorial_zeros(f):
    i=0
    j=0
    for x in range (1,f+1):
        if x%10 == 0:
            while x%10 == 0:
                x= x//10
                i +=1
            while x%5 == 0:
                x= x//5
                j +=1
        elif x%5 == 0:
            while x%5 == 0:
                x= x//5
                j +=1
    l = i+j
    return l


l=[]
i=int(raw_input())
for x in range(i):
    f = int(raw_input())
    f= factorial_zeros(f)
    if x == i-1:
        sys.stdout.write(str(f))
    else:
        print f

Answer 1

I don't compete/submit at Codechef, but AFAIK it uses Python 2.5 rather than 2.6. Perhaps you are using something that is 2.5-specific? (although I can't find anything that is).

Edit:

It looks to me now that the problem isn't with Python versions at all. Notice in the problem statement that the input value N can be as large as 10^9. Trying the range(1,f+1) with such a large value of f will cause the interpreter to try to build a list with 10^9 elements. This will clearly exceed the memory limits for this problem on the judge machine, thus causing an uncaught exception that shows up as an RTE to you.

FWIW, your approach to solving the problem is wrong. even if you replaced range with xrange to avoid memory limits, you will still end up trying 10^9 iterations which will make your solution time out.

Answer 2

The thing runs OK both under 2.6 and 2.5, and 2.4 for that matter. i, j = 0, 0 is fine since very ancient Python versions, like 1.5. The program even reads input and computes the results correctly, if slowly. Though I'd try sys.stdin.readline().strip() instead of raw_input().

Unless you specify which RuntimeError you're getting, complete with stacktrace preferably, hardly anyone can help you, all telepaths are on vacation.