Thread: need help writing function

  1. #1
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    need help writing function

    i need write a reverseInput function that will take as many numbers as
    user inputs and display them back in a descending order.

    for example

    enter a number 6,
    enter a number 12,
    enter a number 4,
    ,,.....

    out put the number in descending order is 12, 6, 4...

    i can't used array.

    if i can't used array how am i suppose to store the number??

  2. #2
    and the hat of int overfl Salem's Avatar
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    What about using a linked list?
    If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
    If at first you don't succeed, try writing your phone number on the exam paper.

  3. #3
    Deathray Engineer MacGyver's Avatar
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    If you're allowed to use it, use something like a std::vector which will hide the implementation details.

  4. #4
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    i don't think i can use a vector either. any more tips? thanks

  5. #5
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    i don't think i can use a vector either, any other method of doing so. i think i am suppose to create a recursive function.

  6. #6
    Deathray Engineer MacGyver's Avatar
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    Well that's fine. You can do this recursively. Go ahead and post what you have so far.

  7. #7
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    that is what i am stock on. can you help me start it off. thanks.
    Code:
    int main() /// main function
    {
    numOrder();
    }
    
    int numOrder()
    {
    int inputNum;
    cout<<"Enter a Number: ";
    cin>>inputNum;
    numOrder();
    }

  8. #8
    Deathray Engineer MacGyver's Avatar
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    Few points:

    1. Your indentation sucks. Fixing it will improve a lot of things.
    2. You're forgetting to actually print the number.
    3. Very important part of recursion is to have a base case. How do you know when to quit? I would assume this is based upon the number given by the user. For example, you could return when the user enters -1.

  9. #9
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    1) i try to used tab but it just doesn't work. sorry.
    2) i will print the number at the end.
    3) i am very confused on the recursive function, can you provide me with a example or help me started it off?

  10. #10
    Deathray Engineer MacGyver's Avatar
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    I spent some time talking about recursion in this topic:

    http://cboard.cprogramming.com/showthread.php?t=96161

  11. #11
    The larch
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    First thing you have to decide is whether you want to output the numbers in the reverse order they were entered (easy with recursion), or in a descending sorted order.

    a) Reversed
    Input 4 12 6
    Output 6 12 4

    or

    b) Descending sorted
    Input 4 12 6
    Output 12 6 4

    The name of the function - reverseInput - suggests a), your description of the requirements suggests b).
    Last edited by anon; 11-25-2007 at 09:30 AM.
    I might be wrong.

    Thank you, anon. You sure know how to recognize different types of trees from quite a long way away.
    Quoted more than 1000 times (I hope).

  12. #12
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    i need it to be in Descending order.

  13. #13
    The larch
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    Well then you have a number of options:

    1) Read input into an array.
    2) Sort array (in descending order).
    3) Print array.

    or

    1) Read input into an array.
    2) Sort array in ascending order.
    3) Print array in reverse.

    or

    1) Read input and put it into the right position in a sorted array (insertion sort helps)
    2) Print array

    (I don't see where recursion would be useful, unless you plan to implement a recursive sort algorithm.)
    I might be wrong.

    Thank you, anon. You sure know how to recognize different types of trees from quite a long way away.
    Quoted more than 1000 times (I hope).

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