C++ Programming: From Problem

Analysis to Program Design, Fifth Edition

Chapter 6: User-Defined
Functions I
 Objectives
In this chapter, you will:
• Learn about standard (predefined) functions
and discover how to use them in a program
• Learn about user-defined functions
• Examine value-returning functions, including
actual and formal parameters
• Explore how to construct and use a value-
returning, user-defined function in a program

C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fifth Edition 2

 Introduction
• Functions are like building blocks
• They allow complicated programs to be
divided into manageable pieces
• Some advantages of functions:
– A programmer can focus on just that part of
the program and construct it, debug it, and
perfect it
– Different people can work on different
functions simultaneously
– Can be re-used (even in different programs)
– Enhance program readability
C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fifth Edition 3
 Introduction (cont'd.)
• Functions
– Called modules
– Like miniature programs
– Can be put together to form a larger program

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 Predefined Functions
• In algebra, a function is defined as a rule
or correspondence between values, called
the function’s arguments, and the unique
value of the function associated with the
arguments
– If f(x) = 2x + 5, then f(1) = 7,
f(2) = 9, and f(3) = 11
• 1, 2, and 3 are arguments
• 7, 9, and 11 are the corresponding values

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 Predefined Functions (cont'd.)
• Some of the predefined mathematical
functions are:
sqrt(x)
pow(x, y)
floor(x)
• Predefined functions are organized into
separate libraries
• I/O functions are in iostream header
• Math functions are in cmath header
C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fifth Edition 6
 Predefined Functions (cont'd.)
• pow(x,y) calculates xy
– pow(2, 3) = 8.0
– Returns a value of type double
– x and y are the parameters (or arguments)
• The function has two parameters
• sqrt(x) calculates the nonnegative
square root of x, for x >= 0.0
– sqrt(2.25) is 1.5
– Type double
C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fifth Edition 7
 Predefined Functions (cont'd.)

• The floor function floor(x)

calculates largest whole number not
greater than x
– floor(48.79) is 48.0
– Type double
– Has only one parameter

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 Predefined Functions (cont'd.)

C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fifth Edition 9

 Predefined Functions (cont'd.)

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 Predefined Functions (cont'd.)

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 Predefined Functions (cont'd.)
• Example 6-1 sample run:

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 User-Defined Functions
• Value-returning functions: have a return
type
– Return a value of a specific data type using
the return statement
• Void functions: do not have a return
type
– Do not use a return statement to return a
value

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 Value-Returning Functions
• To use these functions you must:
– Include the appropriate header file in your
program using the include statement
– Know the following items:
• Name of the function
• Number of parameters, if any
• Data type of each parameter
• Data type of the value returned: called the type of
the function

C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fifth Edition 14

 Value-Returning Functions
(cont'd.)
• Because the value returned by a value-
returning function is unique, must:
– Save the value for further calculation
– Use the value in some calculation
– Print the value
• A value-returning function is used in an
assignment or in an output statement
• One more thing is associated with
functions:
– The code required to accomplish the task
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 Value-Returning Functions
(cont'd.)

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 Value-Returning Functions
(cont'd.)
• Heading: first four properties above
– Example: int abs(int number)
• Formal Parameter: variable declared in the
heading
– Example: number
• Actual Parameter: variable or expression
listed in a call to a function
– Example: x = pow(u, v)

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 Syntax: Value-Returning
Function
• Syntax:

• functionType is also called the data

type or return type

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 Syntax: Formal Parameter List

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 Function Call

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 Syntax: Actual Parameter List
• The syntax of the actual parameter list is:

• Formal parameter list can be empty:

• A call to a value-returning function with an

empty formal parameter list is:

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 return Statement
• Once a value-returning function computes
the value, the function returns this value
via the return statement
– It passes this value outside the function via
the return statement

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 Syntax: return Statement
• The return statement has the
following syntax:

• In C++, return is a reserved word

• When a return statement executes
– Function immediately terminates
– Control goes back to the caller
• When a return statement executes in
the function main, the program
terminates
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 Syntax: return Statement
(cont’d.)

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 Function Prototype
• Function prototype: function heading
without the body of the function
• Syntax:

• It is not necessary to specify the variable

name in the parameter list
• The data type of each parameter must be
specified
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 Function Prototype (cont'd.)

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 Function Prototype (cont'd.)

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 Value-Returning Functions:
Some Peculiarity

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 Value-Returning Functions:
Some Peculiarity (cont'd.)

C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fifth Edition 29

 Value-Returning Functions:
Some Peculiarity (cont'd.)

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 Example 6-5: Palindrome
Number
• A nonnegative integer is a palindrome if it
reads forward and backward in the same
way
– Examples: 5, 44, 789656987

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 Example 6-5: Palindrome
Number (cont’d.)

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 Flow of Execution
• Execution always begins at the first
statement in the function main
• Other functions are executed only when
they are called
• Function prototypes appear before any
function definition
– The compiler translates these first
• The compiler can then correctly
translate a function call
C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fifth Edition 33
 Flow of Execution (cont'd.)
• A function call results in transfer of control
to the first statement in the body of the
called function
• After the last statement of a function is
executed, control is passed back to the
point immediately following the function
call
• A value-returning function returns a value
– After executing the function the returned
value replaces the function call statement
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 Programming Example: Largest
Number
• The function larger is used to determine
the largest number from a set of numbers
• Program determines the largest number
from a set of 10 numbers
• Input: a set of 10 numbers
• Output: the largest of 10 numbers

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 Programming Example:
Program Analysis
• Suppose that the input data is:
15 20 7 8 28 21 43 12 35 3
• Read the first number of the data set
– Because this is the only number read to this
point, you may assume that it is the largest
number so far and call it max
• Read the second number and call it num
– Compare max and num, and store the larger
number into max
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 Programming Example:
Program Analysis (cont'd.)
• Now max contains the larger of the first
two numbers
• Read the third number and compare it with
max and store the larger number into max
– max contains the largest of the first three
numbers
• Read the next number, compare it with
max, and store the larger into max
• Repeat this process for each remaining
number in the data set
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 Programming Example:
Algorithm Design
• Read the first number
– Because this is the only number that you have
read, it is the largest number so far
– Save it in a variable called max
• For each remaining number in the list
– Read the next number
– Store it in a variable called num
– Compare num and max

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 Programming Example:
Algorithm Design (cont'd.)
• For each remaining number in the list
(cont'd.)
– If max < num
• num is the new largest number
• update the value of max by copying num into max
– If max >= num, discard num; that is, do
nothing
• Because max now contains the largest
number, print it
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 Summary
• Functions (modules) are miniature programs
– Divide a program into manageable tasks
• C++ provides the standard functions
• Two types of user-defined functions: value-
returning functions and void functions
• Variables defined in a function heading are
called formal parameters
• Expressions, variables, or constant values in
a function call are called actual parameters

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 Summary (cont'd.)
• In a function call, the number of actual
parameters and their types must match with
the formal parameters in the order given
• To call a function, use its name together with
the actual parameter list
• Function heading and the body of the
function are called the definition of the
function
• A value-returning function returns its value via
the return statement
C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design, Fifth Edition 41
 Summary (cont'd.)
• A prototype is the function heading without
the body of the function; prototypes end
with the semicolon
• Prototypes are placed before every
function definition, including main
• User-defined functions execute only when
they are called
• In a call statement, specify only the actual
parameters, not their data types
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