Thread: Newbie help please.

  1. #1
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    Newbie help please.

    Task: Calculate a math problem with an independent variable entered by the user, in c++;

    The problem I'm having is how to use the variable part, so if the equation was (2^K)/(20*K), what is the best way to set up :

    So far Im on the lines of;

    Code:
    #include <stdio.h>
    #include <math.h>
    int main
     {
       double math, PI, x, K;
       printf("Enter a vlaue for variable K: ");
       PI = (2^K)/(20*k)
    
    ................
    Obviously the equation isn't correct, just a simplified example.***

    Thanks.

  2. #2
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    I think you're looking for this.

    Code:
    scanf("%d", &i);  /*  read an integer into i */
    This is just an example. If your variable is floating point, then use %f instead of %d.

    The formatting options for scanf are about the same as for printf

    Hope this helps.

  3. #3
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    Had a go, and yeah forgot the line you mentioned, thanks.
    Keep getting 'Illegal use of floating point' now though in line 13, the equation.

    Code:
    #include <stdio.h>
    #include <math.h>
    
    int main   
       {
       double PI, K;
       printf("Enter a vlaue for variable K: ");
       scanf("%d", &K);
       PI = (2^K)/(20*K);
       printf("%d", PI);
       return 0;
    
       }
    Should the variable PI and K be floats perhaps?, does that matter?

  4. #4
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    No, this: (2^K) is not a valid operator. Try pow() from the math library.

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    Smile

    Try this :

    Code:
    #include <stdio.h>
    #include <math.h>
    
    void main   
       {
       int a, b;
       printf("Enter a value for variable a: ");
       scanf("%d", &a);
       b = (2^a)/(20*a);
       printf("%d", b);
        }
    
    or... for floating point
    void main   
       {
       double a, b;
       printf("Enter a value for variable a: ");
       scanf("%f", &a);
       b = ((double) 2^a)/((double)20*a);
       printf("%f", b);
        }
    Hope you can move on, now.

  6. #6
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    You are using C instead of C++. If, as you say in your initial post, that you are required to write this in C++, then you need to disregard most of whats been said above and look up how to do it in C++,

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by johnggold View Post
    Hope you can move on, now.
    Hope no reads your post and thinks it's actually a correct answer. void main? Really? And operator^ is not a power operator.
    If I did your homework for you, then you might pass your class without learning how to write a program like this. Then you might graduate and get your degree without learning how to write a program like this. You might become a professional programmer without knowing how to write a program like this. Someday you might work on a project with me without knowing how to write a program like this. Then I would have to do you serious bodily harm. - Jack Klein

  8. #8
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    Sorry - missed that one whilst correcting the code.
    He did say the formula was just an example.

    Code:
    #include <stdio.h>
    #include <math.h>
    
    void main   
       {
       int a, b;
       printf("Enter a value for variable a: ");
       scanf("%d", &a);
       b = (int) pow( (double) 2, (double) a)/(20*a);
       printf("%d", b);
        }
    
    or... for floating point
    void main   
       {
       double a, b;
       printf("Enter a value for variable a: ");
       scanf("%f", &a);
       b = pow((double) 2,a)/((double)20*a);
       printf("%f", b);
        }
    OK?

  9. #9
    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by johnggold
    OK?
    Well, it is still more of a C example than a C++ example, and then void main should really be int main() (i.e., you have a compile error right there). It is also rather strange that you cast integer literals to double when you can use double literals.
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

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    I've always done it that way - makes the constants stand out, and I write a lot of code with casting to double and back to int, so its easier to see whats what in complex equations conatining both.

    The compiler doesn't care, so long as it knows what you want.

  11. #11
    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by johnggold
    I've always done it that way - makes the constants stand out, and I write a lot of code with casting to double and back to int, so its easier to see whats what in complex equations conatining both.
    Interesting reasoning. I tend to side with the school of thought that casts should be avoided where feasible, and I do not quite buy your argument that this "makes the constants stand out", but I guess it is a matter of subjective style.
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

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    I've always believed that style is overrated, and gets in the way of the real objective of programming - delivering solutions.

    We use beautifier software so that everyone gets to look at the same code in their own style. I prefer Polystyle software, which I have tuned exactly to my style.

    I once interviewed a programmer who went on and on about his boss having a lousy programming style, using old compilers, saying that he could rewrite in much more up to date style.

    My colleague asked him how old the code was. Years old was the reply.

    Next question - how reliable is the code? - oh very reliable - hardly any support calls.

    He never got the point, or the job.

  13. #13
    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by johnggold
    I've always believed that style is overrated, and gets in the way of the real objective of programming - delivering solutions.
    If you truly believed that, then you would have written 2.0, not (double)2, because you would not have reasoned that your style, in your opinion, makes it "easier to see whats what in complex equations containing both". No, unless I am overestimating you, you do not believe that style is overrated: you believe that an excessive focus on style beyond what is necessary for readable code is overrated.
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

  14. #14
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    Because of the work we do, constants are always integer, unless you include PI, which is a predefined constant.

    So casting with (double) is all that is required.

    I think you are confusing your reasoning with that of others. Here's a typical code fragment.

    Code:
    drawnormarc( (double) S_X  + ( (double) S_WIDTH  / (double) 2 ) + x1,
                           (double) S_Y  + ( (double) S_HEIGHT / (double) 2 ) + y1,
    	       (double) S_X  + ( (double) S_WIDTH  / (double) 2 ) + x2,
    	       (double) S_Y  + ( (double) S_HEIGHT / (double) 2 ) + y2,
    	       (double) S_X + ( (double) S_WIDTH   / (double) 2 ) + radius[RMA_WIDTH],
    	       (double) S_Y + ( (double) S_HEIGHT  / (double) 2 ) + radius[RMA_HEIGHT],
    	         radius[RMA_RADIUS] );
    Should have changed font - it'll probably all go out of line when I post, but I hope you'll see the reasoning.

    Most of our input values are integer, and for a lot of our outputs, we have to round back to integer.

    Hope this helps

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by johnggold
    I think you are confusing your reasoning with that of others.
    I do not understand what you mean.

    Quote Originally Posted by johnggold
    I hope you'll see the reasoning.
    I don't, but I don't find it unreadable either: that is what I mean by subjective style.
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

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