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Lab Session: Functions
Exercise 1: Functions
Background
You are familiar with functions in mathematics -- you've handled functions like
g(x) = x^2 + 2x - 3. In this case, the function returns a value. The returned value is
computed based on the input. You have also seen functions with multiple inputs:
h(x,y) = 5x - 6x + x*y.
We use functions like this in programming. In C, we need to specify the type of variable
being returned -- int or float. We also need to specify the type of input variables.
We also sometimes use functions which do not return any values -- these are useful if we
want to repeat a few commands, or simply for program organization. These functions are
called void functions.
Functions must be declared before ("higher in the .c file") they are used.
Note that each function has its own scope of variables. A function cannot refer to a variable
which was declared in the int main() function. In fact, you can re-use the same
variable name in different functions!
This is the time we have seen variable scope, but we can illustrate the problem even
without functions. Consider the following example -- it will not compile. The int x is
defined inside an extra code block { . . . }. The scope of variable x only lasts for that code
block; referring to this variable outside of that scope will produce a compiler error.
int main() {
{
int x = 0;
}
x = 1;
}
This is one reason why indentation is useful in source code.
Technical details
Simple function:
#include
float g(float x) {
return x*x + 2*x - 3;
}
int main() {
float a = 3.2;
float b = g(a);
printf("g(%f) = %f\n", a, b);
printf("g(5) = %f\n", g(5));
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// wait for a keypress
getchar();
}
Note the different variables names in the above example!
Various functions:
#include
int catYears(int human_years) {
float y = human_years / 7.0;
// this would be a good place for a comment
// why did I write the next line?
int rounded = y+0.5;
return rounded;
}
float sumOfSquares(float a, float b) {
return a*a + b*b;
}
void p(int years, float c, char animal[100]) {
printf("If I were a %s, I'd be ", animal);
printf("%i years old.\n\n", years);
printf("The sum of squares ");
printf("was %f units.\n", c);
}
int main() {
int my_age = 18;
float x = 3.3;
char animal[100] = "cat";
float years_a = catYears(my_age);
float sum = sumOfSquares(x,7.4);
p(years_a, sum, animal);
// wait for a keypress
getchar();
}
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Your task...
As electrical engineering students, you are familiar with Ohm's Law (V = IR) and
calculating the value of resistors in series (R = R1+R2) and parallel (1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2).
Consider the following circuit:
Write a program to calculate the overall current in this circuit.
You must use 3 functions: Ohm_law(...), series(...),
and parallel(...). A 4th function parallel_three(...) is optional. Do
not write functions like sum_r1_r2(...).
Calculate the current for:
int r1=100, r2=200, r3=300, r4=400, r5=500, r6=600, r7=700;
(you may copy and paste this into your .c file)
The answer should be 124.6 mA.
Calculate the current for:
int r1=123, r2=234, r3=345, r4=456, r5=567, r6=678, r7=789;
The answer should be 107.6 mA.
You may find it helpful to use intermediate variables, and to print debugging
information.
(optional: you can call functions as inputs to other functions, i.e.
z = f( g(x,y), h(x,y) );
Using this, calculate the current from voltage and Rx values in a single line.)
Note: Show your work to a demonstrator/GTA.
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Exercise 2: Random numbers
Background
Unless you are reading a research paper in engineering or computer science, when people
write "random number" with regards to computers, they really mean "pseudorandom
number". The basic problem is that if you start from a single value (known as the random
seed), and do a series of mathematical operations on it, you will not get an actual random
number -- every time you start from the same random seed, you will get the same number!
To quote one of the giants in computer science,
"Anyone who attempts to generate random numbers by deterministic means is,
of course, living in a state of sin."
- John von Neumann
However, pseudorandom numbers are good enough for this course.
Technical details
Generating a random number:
getRand() requires extra #include files!
#include
#include // extra includes!
#include
/* Get a random number from 0 to 0.9999999
(you don't need to understand this function)
***** DON'T MODIFY THIS FUNCTION *****
*/
float getRand() {
return rand() / (RAND_MAX+1.0);
}
int main() {
srand( time(NULL) ); // init random
getRand(); // kick-start the random numbers
float number = getRand();
printf("Random number: %f\n", number);
getchar();
}
Your task...
Write a "dice rolling" game. You are probably familiar with 6-sided dice, but some games
use dice with 4, 6, 8, 10, 20, and 100 sides!
Make the computer pick a random number for a 6-sided die and a 20-sided die.
Use the getRand() function, but do not modify it.
Write an int rollDie(...) function to get a random value.
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o have one integer argument for the value of the die (int
number_of_sides),
o call the getRand() function.
o take the value it returns (a float between 0 and 0.999...) and do some math
to transform that into an int between 1 and number_of_sides
inclusive).
o return the number.
Your int main() must contain only:
int main() {
srand( time(NULL) ); // init random
getRand(); // kick-start the random numbers
int value = 0;
value = rollDie(6);
printf("6-sided die: %i\n", value);
value = rollDie(20);
printf("20-sided die: %i\n", value);
getchar();
}
Note: Show your work to a demonstrator/GTA.
Exercise 3: Put your “guessing game” into a function
Create a "guessing game" program. Your program should:
Make the computer pick a random number to be the answer. It should be
an int between 1 and 32 (inclusive).
Use the getRand() function, but do not modify it. Instead, you should take
the value it returns (a float between 0 and 0.999...) and do some math to
transform that into an int between 1 and 32).
Write a function for the user's guess. This function must:
o have one integer argument (int correct_answer),
o read an int from the keyboard,
o check the user's int against the correct answer,
o output the appropriate message ("correct" / "too high" / "too low"),
o returns a 1 if the user's guess was correct, and 0 if the user's guess
was wrong.
Give the user 5 chances to guess the right answer.
End the game if the user is correct, or if he has used up all 5 chances. Print
either a "you win" or "you lose", as appropriate.
Note: Show your work to a demonstrator/GTA.