Thread: Missing Conditional

  1. #1
    diligentStudent()
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    Missing Conditional

    Hi. I have the following code which runs perfectly for every case except a negative number. This program outputs 1 if the argument in perfectSquare() is an fact a perfect square (and 0 otherwise). Can someone give me a conditional statement which will get the negative number scenario going? Thanks. Steve
    Code:
    #include<iostream>
    
    using namespace std;
    
    bool perfectSquare(int);
    
    int main()
    {
    	cout<<perfectSquare(0)<<endl;
    	return 0;
    }
    
    bool perfectSquare(int x)
    {
          int y;
          for(y=0;y<=x;y++)
          {
              if(x==(y*y))
              return true;
          }
          return false;
    }

  2. #2
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    Square roots of negative numbers are unreal. Unless you want to make it positive and then append an "i" to everything, you could just add a conditional for a negative number at the beginning, and if it returns true, end the function with an error message or something.

  3. #3
    Carnivore ('-'v) Hunter2's Avatar
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    Code:
    #include <cmath>
     
    bool perfectSquare(int x)
    {
       if(x < 0)
    	 return false; //assuming negatives cannot be perfect squares
     
       double root = sqrt(x);
       int truncated = root;
     
       return ((double)truncated == root);
    }
    Note that your original function was returning 1 and 0, while the return type of the function is bool.
    Last edited by Hunter2; 09-12-2004 at 03:53 PM.
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  4. #4
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    Or if you want to automatically change negative numbers to positive and continue...
    Code:
      if(x < 0) x = x * -1;
    -d-
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  5. #5
    Carnivore ('-'v) Hunter2's Avatar
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    >>if(x < 0) x = x * -1;
    Code:
    #include <cmath>
    x = abs(x);
    -or-
    x = (x >=0) ? x:-x;
    -or-
    if(x < 0) x = -x;
    Do squares of unreal numbers really count as perfect squares though?
    Last edited by Hunter2; 09-12-2004 at 06:24 PM.
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  6. #6
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    >>if(x < 0) x = x * -1;
    >#include <cmath>
    >x = abs(x);

    I vote for one fewer include.

    >Do squares of unreal numbers really count as perfect squares?

    A program can react in different ways when it encounters "bad" input

    "You entered a negative number (-234) did you mean 234?"

    -d-
    If you speak or are learning Spanish, check out this Spanish and English Dictionary, it is a handy online resource.
    What happens is not as important as how you react to what happens. -Thaddeus Golas

  7. #7
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    > if(x < 0) x = -x;

    Ok, you win.
    If you speak or are learning Spanish, check out this Spanish and English Dictionary, it is a handy online resource.
    What happens is not as important as how you react to what happens. -Thaddeus Golas

  8. #8
    Carnivore ('-'v) Hunter2's Avatar
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    >>I vote for one fewer include.
    There are two other alternatives I posted. At least they don't involve direct multiplication

    >>A program can react in different ways when it encounters "bad" input
    A negative number is not bad input, unless the coder so designates it - and if it is 'bad' ("please enter a positive number"), then the coder should filter the input before passing it to a function. The point was, if a negative number CANNOT be a perfect square, then obviously perfectSquare() should return false when a negative is encountered. Your example would simply ignore the fact that it is not a perfect square (again, assuming that negatives are by definition not perfect squares - hence my question) and potentially give incorrect output.
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  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hunter2
    >>I vote for one fewer include.
    There are two other alternatives I posted. At least they don't involve direct multiplication
    Sorry, I replied before your edit adding the 2nd and 3rd alternatives.


    Quote Originally Posted by Hunter2
    A negative number is not bad input, unless the coder so designates it
    Hence my quotes around the word bad.


    Quote Originally Posted by Hunter2
    ...if a negative number CANNOT be a perfect square, then obviously perfectSquare() should return false when a negative is encountered. Your example would simply ignore the fact that it is not a perfect square (again, assuming that negatives are by definition not perfect squares - hence my question) and potentially give incorrect output.
    I cannot argue here.

    Truce

    -d-
    If you speak or are learning Spanish, check out this Spanish and English Dictionary, it is a handy online resource.
    What happens is not as important as how you react to what happens. -Thaddeus Golas

  10. #10
    Carnivore ('-'v) Hunter2's Avatar
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    Truce Heh, and we have yet to hear from the OP...
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