programming with "enum"

Hey... I've been working on this program using the enumeration type. When I execute what I've written, it returns a number instead of the type of triangle it is. If you could look at the code and help me out I'd appreciate it!

Code:

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

enum triangleType {scalene, isosceles, equilateral, noTriangle};

triangleType triangleShape(double, double, double);

int main()
{
	double firstSide, secondSide, thirdSide;
	
	cout << "Enter the lengths of the three sides of a triangle." << endl;
	cin >> firstSide >> secondSide >> thirdSide;
	cout << endl;

	cout << "The shape of the triangle is: "
		 << triangleShape(firstSide, secondSide, thirdSide) << endl;

	return 0;
}
triangleType triangleShape(double firstSide, double secondSide, double thirdSide)
{
	triangleType type;

	if (firstSide + secondSide <= thirdSide || firstSide + thirdSide <= secondSide ||
		secondSide + thirdSide <= firstSide)
	{
		type = noTriangle;
	}
	if (firstSide + secondSide > thirdSide && firstSide + thirdSide > secondSide &&
		secondSide + thirdSide > firstSide)
	{
		if (firstSide != secondSide && firstSide != thirdSide && secondSide != thirdSide)
		{
			type = scalene;
		}
		else if (firstSide == secondSide || firstSide == thirdSide || secondSide == thirdSide)
		{
			type = isosceles;
		}
		else
		{
			type = equilateral;
		}
	}
	return type;
}

enum's are enumerated constants. They represent numbers. The first entry in an enum statement represents 0, the second 1 and so on.

You can of course change this:

Code:

enum triangles { equilateral=10, scalene=20 }; // etc

If this isn't what you meant, well, sorry.

No, that's not what I meant but thanks for tryin. In my function I'm trying to return the type of triangle after the user has input the lengths of the three sides of a triangle. But when I run the program, it's giving me those values; 0, 1, 2, etc. Any one got some ideas for me?!?!

When the user inputs the # sides for a scalene triangle, what number is output?

well yeah.. it is suppose to return a number..

Code:

enum triangleType {scalene, isosceles, equilateral, noTriangle};
//scalene = 0;
// isosceles = 1;
// equilateral = 2;
//noTriangle = 3;

and the function is going to return one of those values.

if you want it return a string like "Equilateral" make a string function

There's your answer - the same as my reply

Originally Posted by ahluka

There's your answer - the same as my reply

sorry i didn't see your reply.. you must of posted it seconds before mine..

Well you replied to my reply saying thanks for trying. Never mind about it, at least you won't have problems with it again

*edit*

Damn, sorry, I thought you were the one who started the thread lol. Yeah I posted it about the same time

Originally Posted by mrafcho001

well yeah.. it is suppose to return a number..

Code:

enum triangleType {scalene, isosceles, equilateral, noTriangle};
//scalene = 0;
// isosceles = 1;
// equilateral = 2;
//noTriangle = 3;

and the function is going to return one of those values.

if you want it return a string like "Equilateral" make a string function

But for an enumeration type, aren't "scalene, isosceles, etc" variables, not strings? How would I set that up if making it return a string is the only way I can do it?

first start off with making the function return a string:

Code:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

string Triangle(double side1, double side2, double side3)
{
    //Here check the sides like you did on the other function
   //and return the right string for examlpe for Equilateral triangle "Equilateral"

}

int main()
{

return 0;
}

Well, you could do something like this just after the enum:

Code:

std::string triangleName[] = {"scalene", "isosceles", "equilateral", "noTriangle"};

After which triangleName[isosceles] would be the string "isosceles".

The point of my program though is on using the enumeration type. Shouldn't there be another way for me to return what I want it to?

Code:

string trianglePrint (triangleType t) {
   switch(t) 
   {
      case scalene: return "scalene";
      case isosceles: return "isosceles";
      case equilateral: return "equilateral";
      case noTriangle: return "No Triangle";
      default: return "Error";
   }
}

Or you can directly print it...

Code:

void trianglePrint (triangleType t) {
   switch(t) 
   {
      case scalene: cout << "scalene"; break;
      case isosceles: cout << "isosceles"; break;
      case equilateral: cout << "equilateral"; break;
      case noTriangle: cout << "No Triangle"; break;
      default: cout << "Error";
   }
}

I'm supposed to be able to return the shape of the triangle from the triangleShape function.

You're not making much sense here. Do you want to return a string indicating which shape it is (the examples fellow repliers have posted above) or, like, a vertex for use in '3d space'.