Thread: expected primary expansion before ')' token.

Ok i cant figure out whats wrong with my code, im just making this for a little practice. Im only 14 and ive been doing c++ for ummm 2 days now i think it is. The problem is always get stuck with a weird error, it varies from the different lil aps i write, usually it says that a { isnt there when it is so i have to delete it, try to compile, then reinsert it, compile and then it will run even though its the same as before. Unfortunatly this isnt working with this problem. Heres my code *no where near completed*

Code:

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
    int X;
    
    cout<<"This program is designed to work as a times table.  Please enter a number from 1-9 and all of the expressions up to *9 will be displayed for that number.\n";
    cout<<endl;
    cout<<"Please enter the number you would like the times table for.: ";
    cin>> X;
    cin.ignore();
    
    if ( X == 1) {
         for  ( X = 1; X < 9; X** ) {
             cout<< X <<endl;
             }
             }
cin.get();
}

i get the error

expected primary expansion before ')' token.

for this line

for ( X = 1; X < 9; X** ) {

the thing is there IS a primary expansion token on the line RIGHT ABOvE IT!

if ( X == 1) { <---- there it is lol.

so idk wth is wrong with it, maybe i dont have my {} in the right places or something. any help would be nice since i kind of want this to work because it would be good extra credit for my computerclass.


O and also will the X** times X by 2,3,4,5, etc.? or is that screwed up as well?

No X** doesn't make any sense and doesn't do anything. If you're attempting to relate it to X++, then you would have to assume it would do X*1... which really doesn't do much of anything does it. Your problem is in the X**, as it's not proper syntax and their for not a primary expression.

You have a few logical errors in this program as well, I can tell you right now, that even if you somehow fixed the syntax error without changing the integrity of what the program does, then it wouldn't do your times table.

If I may, with your permission. I'll quickly fix this program for you and show you how it works.

Let me explain a bit about for loops.

The declaration of a for loop is like this
[CODE] for (variable initialization; condition to loop; update on loop)[CODE]

Now considering that, look at what your loop would do after a few times of looping:

Code:

    if ( X == 1 ) {
         for  ( X = 1; X < 9; X * 1 ) {
             cout<< X <<endl;
         }

/* When it enters, X = 1. It outputs the value of X(1). It gets to the end of the 
loop and checks the condition to stay in. X(1) is less then 9 so it loops again.
It makes the update X(1) * 1 = 1... Notice that it puts it nowhere, so this does nothing
It loops again... It outputs the value of X(1). It gets to the end of the 
loop and checks the condition to stay in. X(1) is less then 9 so it loops again. 

It does this forever cause your update gets you no closer to your condition
for exiting the loop*/

I'd read more about for loops, because you seem to be uncertain on how they work.

Also, you should ask yourself if you could do that with one variable. You have your initial number, and then you have your product of the multiplication.