An Introduction to Programming

with C++
Fifth Edition

Chapter 9
Value-Returning Functions
 Objectives
• Raise a number to a power
• Generate random numbers
• Create and invoke a function that returns a value
• Pass information, by value, to a function

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 Objectives (continued)
• Write a function prototype
• Understand a variable’s scope and lifetime
• Use the .NET C++ Math::Pow() method
• Generate random integers in .NET C++

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 Concept Lesson
• Functions
• Value-Returning Functions
• Raising a Number to a Power
• Generating Random Numbers
• Creating Program-Defined Value-Returning
Functions
• Processing a Function

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 Functions
• A function is a block of code that performs a task
• A C++ program contains at least one function:
main()
– Most contain many more
• Programmers use functions because they:
– Allow programmer to avoid duplicating code
– Allow programs to be broken into manageable tasks
• Functions can be categorized into:
– Value-returning functions
– Void functions
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 Value-Returning Functions
• A value-returning function returns precisely one
value after completing its assigned task
– Usually returned to the statement that called function
• Typically, statement displays return value, uses it in a
calculation, or assigns it to a variable
– Some value-returning functions are built into C++
• E.g., getline() and toupper()

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 Raising a Number to a Power
• You use pow( )to raise a number to a power and
return result as a double number

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 Generating Random Numbers
• A pseudo-random number generator produces a
sequence of numbers that meet certain statistical
requirements for randomness
– Numbers are chosen with equal probability from a
finite set of numbers
– Chosen numbers are sufficiently random for practical
purposes
• rand() returns an integer greater than or equal to
zero and less than or equal to RAND_MAX
– RAND_MAX is always at least 32,767

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 Generating Random Numbers
(continued)

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 Generating Random Numbers
(continued)

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 Generating Random Numbers
(continued)

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 Generating Random Numbers
(continued)

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 Generating Random Numbers
(continued)
• You should initialize the random number generator
in each program in which it is used
– Otherwise, it will generate the same series of
numbers each time
– Use the srand() function
• You must provide a seed
– Integer that represents the starting point for the random number
generator
– Usually use time(): returns current time as seconds elapsed
since midnight January 1, 1970

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 Generating Random Numbers
(continued)

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Random Numbers Program: Displaying
Random Addition Problems
• Program displays five random addition problems on
the screen
– After displaying an addition problem, it allows user to
enter the answer to the problem
– It checks whether the user’s answer is correct
• “Correct!”
• “Sorry, the sum is X”

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Random Numbers Program: Displaying
Random Addition Problems (continued)

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Random Numbers Program: Displaying
Random Addition Problems (continued)

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Random Numbers Program: Displaying
Random Addition Problems (continued)

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 Creating Program-Defined
Value-Returning Functions
• You can create your own value-returning functions
– Program-defined functions
• A function definition is composed of:
– Function header
– Function body

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 Creating Program-Defined
Value-Returning Functions (continued)

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 Function Header
• Function header: first line in a function definition
– Does not end with a semicolon
• Not considered a C++ statement
– Begins with returnDataType
– Next comes the name of the function
• Naming rules are the same as for naming variables
• Name usually begins with a verb
– Also has an optional parameterList enclosed in ()
• Lists data type and name of formal parameters
– Formal parameters store the information passed to the
function when it is invoked

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 Passing Information to a Function
• Items passed to a function are actual arguments
– Can be a variable, named constant, literal constant, or
keyword
• You can pass a variable:
– by value (a copy of the value is passed), or
– by reference (the variable address is passed)
default
– Examples
• calcRectangleArea(2, 3)
• calcRectangleArea(length, width)
pass by value

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 Function Body
• Function body contains instructions the function
follows to perform its assigned task
– Begins with { and ends with }
– The last statement is usually return expression;
• expression represents the value the function returns to
the statement that called it
– return statement alerts computer that the function
has completed its task
• Data type of expression must agree with the
returnDataType specified in function header

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 Using a Function Prototype
• If a function definition appears below main(), you
must enter a function prototype above main()
– Prototype specifies function’s name, data type of
return value and of each formal parameter

– Usually after #includes and usings

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 Processing a Function
• When the computer processes a statement
containing a program-defined function:
1. It locates the function’s code
2. Passes values of actual arguments to function
3. Function receives values and stores them in the
memory locations listed in its parameterList
4. Function code is processed
5. Return value is returned to calling function

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 Processing a Function (continued)

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 Processing a Function (continued)

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 Processing a Function (continued)

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 Processing a Function (continued)

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 The Scope and Lifetime of a Variable
• A variable’s scope indicates where in the program it
can be used
– Local or global
• Local variables are declared within a function or
appear in a function’s parameterList
• Global variables are declared outside of any function
and remain in memory until program ends
– Avoid using global variables in your programs
• A variable’s lifetime indicates how long it remains in
memory

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 The Bonus Calculation Program
• Program calculates and displays a 5% bonus
amount
– Based on the amount of sales entered by the user
• Program uses two value-returning functions:
– getSales()
– calcBonus()

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 The Bonus Calculation Program
(continued)

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 The Bonus Calculation Program
(continued)

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 The Bonus Calculation Program
(continued)

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 The Bonus Calculation Program
(continued)

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 The Bonus Calculation Program
(continued)

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 The Bonus Calculation Program
(continued)

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 Summary
• Programmers use functions because they:
– Allow programmer to avoid duplicating code
– Allow programs to be broken into manageable tasks
• Functions can be value-returning or void
– E.g., pow() and rand() are value-returning functions
• A function definition has a function header and a body
– Header specifies return data type, function name, and
(optional) parameterList enclosed in parentheses
– By default, variables are passed to a function by value

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 Summary (continued)
• The function body contains instructions for a task
– Enclosed in braces
• You must include a function prototype for each
function defined below main()
• A variable’s scope can be either local or global
– Indicates where in a program a variable can be used
• If multiple memory locations have same name, and it
appears in a statement, the computer uses the
position of the statement within the program to
determine which memory location to use

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 Application Lesson: Using Value-
Returning Functions in a C++ Program
• Lab 9.1: Stop and Analyze
• Lab 9.2:
– Create a program to calculate and display the monthly
payments of a loan
• Lab 9.3:
– Modified program should allow user to enter interest
rates either as a whole or as a decimal number
• Lab 9.4: Desk-Check Lab
• Lab 9.5: Debugging Lab

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