Programming for Data Analysis

(CT127-3-2-PFDA and Version VC1)

Functions
 Topic & Structure of the lesson

-Writing functions
- How to call a function
- Named Arguments
- Default values for Arguments
- Return value from Functions

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Programming with Java
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 Learning outcomes

At the end of this topic, you should be able to:

• Understand how to write a function and calling
them
• How to pass arguments and return values in
function

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CT127-3-2 Oriented Development
Programming with Java
for Data Analysis File I/O
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 Key terms you must be able to use

- If you have mastered this topic, you should

be able to use the following terms correctly
in your assignments and exams:
- function
- argument
- return value

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CT127-3-2 Oriented Development
Programming with Java
for Data Analysis File I/O
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 Functions
- Functions are used to logically break our code
into simpler parts which become easy to maintain
and understand.
- It’s pretty straightforward to create your own
function in R programming.
- Syntax for Writing Functions in R
func_name <- function (argument) {
statement
}
-Here we can see that the reserved word function is used to declare
a function in R
-The statements within the curly braces form the body of the
function.
- func_name-> name assigned to a function

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CT127-3-2 Oriented Development
Programming with Java
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 Example of a Function

pow <- function(x, y) {

# function to print x raised to the power y
result <- x^y
print(paste(x,"raised to the power", y, "is", result))
}

- Here, create a function called pow()

- It takes two arguments, finds the first raised to the power of second
argument and prints the result in appropriate format
- paste()-built-in function

How to call a function ?

> pow(8,2)
[1] “8 raised to the power 2 is 64”

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CT127-3-2 Oriented Development
Programming with Java
for Data Analysis File I/O
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 Default Values for Arguments
-We can assign default values to arguments in a function in R.
- This is done by providing an appropriate value to the formal argument
in the function declaration.
- Here is the above function with a default value for y
Eg:

pow <- function(x, y = 2) {

# function to print x raised to the power y
res <- x^y
print(paste(x,"raised to the power", y, "is",res
}
> pow(3)
[1] "3 raised to the power 2 is 9"
> pow(3,1)
[1] "3 raised to the power 1 is 3“
- Y is optional and will take value 2 when not provided

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CT127-3-2 Oriented Development
Programming with Java
for Data Analysis File I/O
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 R Return Value from Function
-Functions are generally used for computing some value, so they need
a mechanism to supply that value back to the caller
- This is called returning.
- The value of the last line of the code in a function is automatically
returned.
- The return command specifies that a value should be returned and
the function should be exited
- The syntax of return is:
return(expression)
Eg: check <- function(x) {
if (x > 0) {
result <- "Positive"
}else if (x < 0) {
result <- "Negative"
}else {
result <- "Zero"
}
return(result)
}
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Programming with Java
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 Quick Review Questions

• How to create a function in R?

• How to pass parameters in R?
• What is the purpose of return value in a
function?

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Programming with Java
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 Summary of Main Teaching Points

• Functions
• Create function
• Passing arguments
• Return value

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 Q&A

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 Next Session

• Data Exploration
-Reading data into R
- Read from Excel sheet
- Read from Table

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CT127-3-2 Oriented Development
Programming with Java
for Data Analysis File I/O
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