VP 53: Parser (30 extra)

What You Need

Any computer with Python 3. You can also use an online Python environment, such as https://colab.research.google.com

Problem Statement

Your input is a string containing patentheses, like this:

(()))())())(

Your task is to count the parentheses this way:

Each opening parenthesis, (, counts as +1
Each closing parenthesis, ), counts as -1

For example:

(()) and ()() both result in a total of 0
((( and (()(()( both result in a total of 3
))((((( also results in a total of 3
()) and ))( both result in a total of -1
))) and )())()) both result in a total of -3

VP 53.1: Checksum (15 pts)
Use this data:
https://samsclass.info/COMSC122/proj/VP53
What is the count of parentheses for that data?
That number is the flag.

VP 53.2: Running Total (15 pts)
Use the same data:
https://samsclass.info/COMSC122/proj/VP53
Now, given the same instructions, find the position of the first character
that causes the running total to first reach -1.
The first character in the instructions has position 1, the second character
has position 2, and so on.
For example:
) reaches -1 at position 1
()()) reaches -1 at position 5
What is the position that causes the total to reach -1?
That number is the flag.

Source

Adapted from the Advent of Code.

Posted 9-3-25
Video added 10-28-25