Confused on Pass By Reference

I am trying to write a program that calculates the number of soccer teams and players that will be available. I am very confused as to which parameters need to be pass by reference. I've looked at the definition and I don't understand what it means. My code is probably wrong in the functions, but hopefully I can figure those out after I get the pass-by-references right.

Code:

TODO:   Rewrite this program using the following 4 functions.

            (1) An input function for getting the number of players per team.


            (2) Another input function for getting the number of players
                available.


            (3) A function to calculate the number of teams and number of
                left-over players.


            (4) An output function to print the result.


    NOTE:   Use and document the appropriate parameter passing mechanism
            for each parameter: in, out, inout


            In the end, the main() function should include just the variable
            declarations, 4 function call statements, and the return statement.
*/


#include <iostream>
using namespace std;








int main()
{
   int players,      // Number of available players
       teamPlayers,  // Number of desired players per team
       numTeams,    // Number of teams
       leftOver;     // Number of players left over


   void getPlayers(int&);
   void playersPerTeam(int&);
   void numOfTeams(int&, int&, int&);
   void displayResults(int, int, int, int);




   getPlayers(players);
   playersPerTeam(teamPlayers);
   numOfTeams(numTeams, teamPlayers, players);
   displayResults(numTeams, leftOver);

return 0;
}

 void getPlayers(int& players)
   {
       cout << "How many players are available? ";
       cin >> players;


   // Validate the input using a while loop.
   while (players <= 0)
        {
            cout << "Please enter a positive number: ";
            cin >> players;
        }
   }






    void playersPerTeam(int& teamPlayers)
    {
   // Validate the input using a while loop.
        while (teamPlayers < 9 || teamPlayers > 15)
            {
                 cout << "You should have at least 9 but no\n";
                 cout << "more than 15 per team.\n";
                 cout << "How many players do you wish per team? ";
                 cin >> teamPlayers;
            }


          cout << endl;
    }


    void numOfTeams(int& numTeams, int& teamPlayers, int& players)
    {
        numTeams = players / teamPlayers;
    }


    void displayResults(int players, int leftOver, int teamPlayers, int numTeams)
    {
        leftOver = players % teamPlayers;
        cout << "There will be " << numTeams << " teams with ";
        cout << leftOver << " players left over.\n";
    }

Edit: I thought this was in C not C++; so, it might be off since I am just learning C++.

The term pass-by-references means it is being past by address/pointer instead of by value.
Use pass by value when the value in the calling function is NOT supposed to change when the called function runs.
Use pass by address if the value in the calling function is supposed to be changed when the called function runs.

Edit: C++ has pass-by-reference added to it; C does not really have it.
The main difference is syntax, and references can not or should not be NULL, I am a C programmers so there maybe more differences.
The syntax difference is the lack of a indirection "*" needed in C; but references do not need them.

If only a single value needs to be effected by the called function, it is more common to return the value from the function.

NOTE: In C, functions can NOT return arrays; but, can return structures.

Tim S.

Okay, I think I'm understanding it a little more. I got the program to work. Now I can study off of it. Thanks!

Originally Posted by Reynolds773

Okay, I think I'm understanding it a little more. I got the program to work. Now I can study off of it. Thanks!

I forgot another C++ difference, passing by reference is faster. But, if the object being passed is not supposed to be changed you need to add a const keyword somewhere. In C, pointers are sometimes used for large data objects for the same speed reason.

Tim S.

Originally Posted by stahta01

I forgot another C++ difference, passing by reference is faster. But, if the object being passed is not supposed to be changed you need to add a const keyword somewhere. In C, pointers are sometimes used for large data objects for the same speed reason.

Tim S.

I'll add that to my notes, thanks!

Originally Posted by stahta01

I forgot another C++ difference, passing by reference is faster. But, if the object being passed is not supposed to be changed you need to add a const keyword somewhere. In C, pointers are sometimes used for large data objects for the same speed reason.

Tim S.

I've the same program as my homework assignment (and everything is the same except maybe some of the prompt text) and I'm currently experiencing an error that says the variable leftOver is being used without being initialized..I'm not sure how to correct this

Post your code! Maybe we can help you.