BITS Pilani

K K Birla Goa Campus

CSF111: Computer Programming

Functions

Swaroop Joshi

2023
Area of a rectangle given two sides
Area of a rectangle given two sides

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
int length = 4; int width = 6;
printf("Length: %d, Width: %d, ", length, width);
printf("Area = %d\n", length * width);

return 0;
}
Area of a rectangle given two sides

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
int length = 4; int width = 6;
printf("Length: %d, Width: %d, ", length, width);
printf("Area = %d\n", length * width);

return 0;
}

Output:
Length: 4, Width: 6, Area: 24
Area of a rectangle given two sides

int length = 4; int width = 6;

printf("Length: %d, Width: %d, ", length, width);
printf("Area: %d\n", length * width);

length = 12; width = 14;

printf("Length: %d, Width: %d, ", length, width);
printf("Area: %d\n", length * width);
Area of a rectangle given two sides #include, in main, return
removed for the slide;
You still need them in the program!

int length = 4; int width = 6;

printf("Length: %d, Width: %d, ", length, width);
printf("Area: %d\n", length * width);

length = 12; width = 14;

printf("Length: %d, Width: %d, ", length, width);
printf("Area: %d\n", length * width);
Area of a rectangle given two sides

int length = 4; int width = 6; Reassign the variable to a new value;

printf("Length: %d, Width: %d, ", length,Dowidth);
not declare again!
printf("Area: %d\n", length * width);

length = 12; width = 14;

printf("Length: %d, Width: %d, ", length, width);
printf("Area: %d\n", length * width);
Area of a rectangle given two sides

int length = 4; int width = 6;

printf("Length: %d, Width: %d, ", length, width);
printf("Area: %d\n", length * width);

length = 12; width = 14;

printf("Length: %d, Width: %d, ", length, width);
printf("Area: %d\n", length * width);

Output:
Length: 4, Width: 6, Area: 24
Length: 12, Width: 14, Area: 168
Area of a rectangle given two sides

int length = 4; int width = 6;

printf("Length: %d, Width: %d, ", length, width);
printf("Area: %d\n", length * width);

length = 12; width = 14;

printf("Length: %d, Width: %d, ", length, width);
printf("Area: %d\n", length * width);

Output:
Length: 4, Width: 6, Area: 24
Length: 12, Width: 14, Area: 168
Area of a rectangle given two sides
To compute the area of 100 rectangles,
repeat the expression length * width
that many times
int length = 4; int width = 6;
printf("Length: %d, Width: %d, ", length, width);
printf("Area: %d\n", length * width);

length = 12; width = 14;

printf("Length: %d, Width: %d, ", length, width);
printf("Area: %d\n", length * width);

Output:
Length: 4, Width: 6, Area: 24
Length: 12, Width: 14, Area: 168
Area of a rectangle given two sides

int length = 4; int width = 6;

printf("Length: %d, Width: %d, ", length, width);
printf("Area: %d\n", length * width);

length = 12; width = 14;

printf("Length: %d, Width: %d, ", length, width);
printf("Area: %d\n", length * width);

If we were to change the way we

compute the area, we have to change
Output: it at all those places!
Length: 4, Width: 6, Area: 24
Length: 12, Width: 14, Area: 168
Function

✤ A meaningful abstraction

✤ Captures a task that can take

one or more instructions into
one concise instruction.
 Anatomy of a function

Function return_type function_name(parameter_list) {

function_body
}

✤ A meaningful abstraction

✤ Captures a task that can take

one or more instructions into
one concise instruction.
 Anatomy of a function

Function return_type function_name(parameter_list) {

function_body
}

What type of value does this function evaluate to.

✤ A meaningful abstraction

✤ Captures a task that can take

one or more instructions into
one concise instruction.
 Anatomy of a function

Function return_type function_name(parameter_list) {

function_body
}

What type of value does this function evaluate to.

Name of the instruction. You use it to call the

✤ A meaningful abstraction
function, i.e., to perform the task.

✤ Captures a task that can take

one or more instructions into
one concise instruction.
 Anatomy of a function

Function return_type function_name(parameter_list) {

function_body
}

What type of value does this function evaluate to.

Name of the instruction. You use it to call the

✤ A meaningful abstraction
function, i.e., to perform the task.

✤ Captures a task that can take

Input values this function operates on. Zero or
one or more instructions into more. Must have type and name.
one concise instruction.
 Anatomy of a function

Function return_type function_name(parameter_list) {

function_body
}

What type of value does this function evaluate to.

Name of the instruction. You use it to call the

✤ A meaningful abstraction
function, i.e., to perform the task.

✤ Captures a task that can take

Input values this function operates on. Zero or
one or more instructions into more. Must have type and name.
one concise instruction.
Zero or more instructions to perform the task.
Enclosed within curly braces {…}
Design recipe
Design recipe

✤ Programming is a creative activity

Design recipe

✤ Programming is a creative activity

✤ However, rules can guide and focus creativity

Design recipe

✤ Programming is a creative activity

✤ However, rules can guide and focus creativity

✤ Poets composing in speci c meters (e.g., Kabir’s dohas, Thiruvalluvar’s

three-liners)
fi
Design recipe

✤ Programming is a creative activity

✤ However, rules can guide and focus creativity

✤ Poets composing in speci c meters (e.g., Kabir’s dohas, Thiruvalluvar’s

three-liners)

✤ We start with a simple recipe and expand it as the course progresses

fi
Design Recipe

Data Understand the input data: int, double, char, etc.

Purpose and Header Describe (but don’t write) the function.

Specify the output in terms of its inputs. Describe any restrictions

Contract
on the input values.
Show what will happen when the function is invoked
Examples
(Also serve as test cases)

Body The most creative step: implement the function body

area_rectangle
 area_rectangle

Data Two ints

 area_rectangle

Data Two ints

Computes the area of a rectangle given its length and width.

Purpose and Header
int area_rectangle(int length, int width)
 area_rectangle

Data Two ints

Computes the area of a rectangle given its length and width.

Purpose and Header
int area_rectangle(int length, int width)

Returns the product of the given length and width.

Contract Requires: length > 0, width > 0
 area_rectangle

Data Two ints

Computes the area of a rectangle given its length and width.

Purpose and Header
int area_rectangle(int length, int width)

Returns the product of the given length and width.

Contract Requires: length > 0, width > 0

4 area_rectangle(2, 2)
Examples 24 area_rectangle(4, 6)
168 area_rectangle(12, 14)
 area_rectangle

Data Two ints

Computes the area of a rectangle given its length and width.

Purpose and Header
int area_rectangle(int length, int width)

Returns the product of the given length and width.

Contract Requires: length > 0, width > 0

4 area_rectangle(2, 2)
Examples 24 area_rectangle(4, 6)
168 area_rectangle(12, 14)

Body // not shown for now

A function to compute area of a rectangle
/**
* @brief Computes the area of a rectangle
given its length and width.
* Requires: length > 0, width > 0
* @return Product of length and width

*
* @retval 4 area_rectangle(2, 2)
* @retval 24 area_rectangle(4, 6)
* @retval 168 area_rectangle(12, 14)
*
*/
int area_rectangle(int length, int width) {

}
A function to compute area of a rectangle
/**
* @brief Computes the area of a rectangle
given its length and width.
* Requires: length > 0, width > 0
* @return Product of length and width

*
* @retval 4 area_rectangle(2, 2)
* @retval 24 area_rectangle(4, 6)
* @retval 168 area_rectangle(12, 14)
*
Data
*/
int area_rectangle(int length, int width) {

}
A function to compute area of a rectangle
Purpose
/**
* @brief Computes the area of a rectangle
given its length and width.
* Requires: length > 0, width > 0
* @return Product of length and width

*
* @retval 4 area_rectangle(2, 2)
* @retval 24 area_rectangle(4, 6)
* @retval 168 area_rectangle(12, 14)
*
*/
int area_rectangle(int length, int width) {

}
A function to compute area of a rectangle
/**
* @brief Computes the area of a rectangle
given its length and width.
* Requires: length > 0, width > 0
* @return Product of length and width
Contract
*
* @retval 4 area_rectangle(2, 2)
* @retval 24 area_rectangle(4, 6)
* @retval 168 area_rectangle(12, 14)
*
*/
int area_rectangle(int length, int width) {

}
A function to compute area of a rectangle
/**
* @brief Computes the area of a rectangle
given its length and width.
* Requires: length > 0, width > 0
* @return Product of length and width

*
* @retval 4 area_rectangle(2, 2)
* @retval 24 area_rectangle(4, 6)
* @retval 168 area_rectangle(12, 14)
*
Header
*/
int area_rectangle(int length, int width) {

}
A function to compute area of a rectangle
/**
* @brief Computes the area of a rectangle
given its length and width.
* Requires: length > 0, width > 0
* @return Product of length and width

* Examples

* @retval 4 area_rectangle(2, 2)
* @retval 24 area_rectangle(4, 6)
* @retval 168 area_rectangle(12, 14)
*
*/
int area_rectangle(int length, int width) {

}
A function to compute area of a rectangle
/**
* @brief Computes the area of a rectangle
given its length and width.
* Requires: length > 0, width > 0
* @return Product of length and width

*
* @retval 4 area_rectangle(2, 2)
* @retval 24 area_rectangle(4, 6)
* @retval 168 area_rectangle(12, 14)
*
*/
int area_rectangle(int length, int width) {
return length * width;
}
A function to compute area of a rectangle
/**
* @brief Computes the area of a rectangle
given its length and width.
* Requires: length > 0, width > 0
* @return Product of length and width

*
* @retval 4 area_rectangle(2, 2)
* @retval 24 area_rectangle(4, 6)
* @retval 168 area_rectangle(12, 14)
*
*/
Types int area_rectangle(int length, int width) {
must return length * width;
match! }
A function to compute area of a rectangle
/**
* @brief Computes the area of a rectangle
given its length and width.
* Requires: length > 0, width > 0
* @return Product of length and width

*
* @retval 4 area_rectangle(2, 2)
* @retval 24 area_rectangle(4, 6)
* @retval 168 area_rectangle(12, 14)
*
*/
int area_rectangle(int length, int width) {
return length * width;
}
A function to compute area of a rectangle
/**
* @brief Computes the area of a rectangle
given its length and width.
* Requires: length > 0, width > 0
* @return Product of length and width

*
* @retval 4 area_rectangle(2, 2)
* @retval 24 area_rectangle(4, 6)
* @retval 168 area_rectangle(12, 14)
*
*/
int area_rectangle(int length, int width) {
return length * width;
} Function Body
Area of a rectangle given two sides
Area of a rectangle given two sides

int length = 4; int width = 6;

printf("Length: %d, Width: %d, ", length, width);
printf("Area: %d\n", area_rectangle(length, width));

length = 12; width = 14;

printf("Length: %d, Width: %d, ", length, width);
printf("Area: %d\n", area_rectangle(length, width));
Area of a rectangle given two sides

int length = 4; int width = 6;

printf("Length: %d, Width: %d, ", length, width);
printf("Area: %d\n", area_rectangle(length, width));

length = 12; width = 14;

printf("Length: %d, Width: %d, ", length, width);
printf("Area: %d\n", area_rectangle(length, width));

Output:
Length: 4, Width: 6, Area: 24
Length: 12, Width: 14, Area: 168
Area of a rectangle given two sides

int length = 4; int width = 6;

printf("Length: %d, Width: %d, ", length, width);
printf("Area: %d\n", area_rectangle(length, width));

length = 12; width = 14;

printf("Length: %d, Width: %d, ", length, width);
printf("Area: %d\n", area_rectangle(length, width));

Output:
Simple, manual testing using the
Length: 4, Width: 6, Area: 24
examples you already thought of
Length: 12, Width: 14, Area: 168
Test with user input
Test with user input
/** ...
*/
int area_rectangle(int length, int width) {
return length * width;
}

int main() {
int length, width;

printf("Enter length and width: ");

scanf("%d %d", &length, &width);

printf("Length: %d, Width: %d, ", length, width);

printf("Area: %d\n", area_rectangle(length, width));

return 0;
}
 Just like variables, functions must be
Test with user input declared before use

/** ...
*/
int area_rectangle(int length, int width) {
return length * width;
}

int main() {
int length, width;

printf("Enter length and width: ");

scanf("%d %d", &length, &width);

printf("Length: %d, Width: %d, ", length, width);

printf("Area: %d\n", area_rectangle(length, width));

return 0;
}
Test with user input
/** ...
*/
int area_rectangle(int length, int width) {
return length * width;
} You can input multiple variables in a
single scanf, just like you can print
int main() { multiple variables in a single printf
int length, width;

printf("Enter length and width: ");

scanf("%d %d", &length, &width);

printf("Length: %d, Width: %d, ", length, width);

printf("Area: %d\n", area_rectangle(length, width));

return 0;
}
Test with user input
/** ...
*/
int area_rectangle(int length, int width) {
return length * width;
$ gcc … }
$ ./area
$ ./area int main() {
$ … int length, width;

printf("Enter length and width: ");

scanf("%d %d", &length, &width);
Compile once,
run multiple times printf("Length: %d, Width: %d, ", length, width);
printf("Area: %d\n", area_rectangle(length, width));

return 0;
}
Tracing over a function call
Tracing over a function call

✤ Go line by line – including over a function call!

Tracing over a function call

✤ Go line by line – including over a function call!

✤ That’s what we did with printf before

Tracing over a function call

✤ Go line by line – including over a function call!

✤ That’s what we did with printf before

✤ Your function is no special!

Tracing over a function call

✤ Go line by line – including over a function call!

✤ That’s what we did with printf before

✤ Your function is no special!

✤ Apply the contract and write the values

Tracing over a function call

✤ Go line by line – including over a function call!

✤ That’s what we did with printf before

✤ Your function is no special!

✤ Apply the contract and write the values

✤ That’s how you reason about programs – not by going inside each function call
Tracing over a function call

✤ Go line by line – including over a function call!

✤ That’s what we did with printf before

✤ Your function is no special!

✤ Apply the contract and write the values

✤ That’s how you reason about programs – not by going inside each function call

✤ If you try that, you will end up in a much deeper rabbit hole than Alice in the
wonderland!
Program State
 Program State
int length = 4;
 Program State
int length = 4;
length = 4
 Program State
int length = 4;
length = 4
int width = 6;
 Program State
int length = 4;
length = 4
int width = 6;
length = 4
width = 6
 Program State
int length = 4;
length = 4
int width = 6;
length = 4
width = 6
int area = area_rectangle(length, width);
 Program State
int length = 4;
length = 4
int width = 6;
length = 4
width = 6
int area = area_rectangle(length, width);
length = 4
width = 6
area = 24