Maximum PC

Ok, I am "trying" to create a C++ program to determine exponentiation. I cannot use the pow function, and must use for loops.

/******************************************************/
/* Exponentiation.cpp */
/* */
/* Created by: Larry R Newell */
/* Date: 12 April 2009 */
/* */
/* Program to compute the x ^ y */
/* */
/* Inputs: (keyboard) */
/* 1. One integer exponent (y), y >= 0 */
/* 2. One float number (x) */
/* */
/* Output: */
/* Print x^y as a float, on the screen */
/* */
/* Algorithm: set a variable equal to 1, then multiply*/
/* that variable by x, y times */
/* */
/******************************************************/

#include <iostream>

using namespace std ;
int main ()
{
int y ;
float x ;
float result ;


// read in the two numbers

cout << endl ;

cout << "Enter number to be raised to power(float) :"
cin >> x ;

cout << "Enter the exponent (non-negative integer) : " ;
cin >> y ;

Int y = 0;

for (y > 0)
for (int i = 1; i <= y; i++)
result = result * x;

}

// display the result

cout << endl ;
cout << "The value of" << x << " to power " << y
<< " is : " << result << endl ;

return (0); // terminate with success
}

That is what I have right now. I have read the chapters and searched the internet to try and grasp the concept that I am still obviously missing. I am doing something (or many things) wrong with the for-loop initializations. If someone could please provide some guidance (not asking for answers or exact code, but maybe help understanding. I am aware of the problem and how to get the solution, I am just confused on how to write the for-loops. Any help is much appreciated.

I suggest writing it out using pseudo code and seeing if it logically sounds right.

Looking at your for loop area, I would translate it this way:

Y = 0

for all situations where Y is greater than 0, enter the loop (does this tell you anything?).

For i = 1 to Y, step through the loop where i<=Y.

result = result * x; (this looks fairly correct, but it's been a while since I have dealt with C. What is the beginning value of result? You don't set it anywhere, and I forget if C defaults it to a value or not.)

} end of the internal for loop, go back to the top of it and increment i by 1 .

Display the result
return (0); // terminate with success
} end of the first loop

Further info on loops.

Something to remember about programming. There's usually no single answer/solution to a problem. It's just that some ways are more efficient than others. Smart programmers tend to be "lazy" programmers in that they don't repeat code if they don't need to.

Loops are used to repeat processes multiple times and not repeat code. You may or may not know more than that you need to repeat the code block more than once, however, you don't use them if you know for sure you are executing a block of code only once.

In your exponentiation example, let's say you have fixed numbers (as a sample), and you want to get the value 5 to the exponent of 10.

If you iterated through it the non-efficient way, you'd do code like:
Result = 5
Result = Result * 5
Result = Result * 5
Result = Result * 5
Result = Result * 5
Result = Result * 5
Result = Result * 5
Result = Result * 5
Result = Result * 5
Result = Result * 5
Result = Result * 5


If you did it the lazy way, you'd code like
Result = 5
for (i =1, i<=10, i++)
Result = Result * 5
}

So, you would go from 11 lines of code (mostly doing the same thing) to 4 lines.

In your example:
Loop #1, it looks like the intent you are saying "Execute the following code only if the exponentiation value is greater than 0".
Loop #2, it looks like the intent you are saying is "Repeat the following code until i = Y".

When it is spelled out like that, does it help in figuring out which one is a correct idea for a loop?

One thing I do not understand is where does the i come from? I never declare i as a variable, yet in every example that I see regarding exponent programs, I see

for (int i = 1; i <= y; i++)

Also you mentioned to increment i by 1, isn't that the purpose of i++ ?

Thanks for your time and help.

#include <iostream>

using namespace std ;
int main ()
{
int y ;
float x ;
float result ;


// read in the two numbers

cout << endl ;

cout << "Enter number to be raised to power(float) :"
cin >> x ;

cout << "Enter the exponent (non-negative integer) : " ;
cin >> y ;

Int y = 0;

{
for (int i = 1; i <= y; i++)
result = result * x;

}

// display the result

cout << endl ;
cout << "The value of" << x << " to power " << y
<< " is : " << result << endl ;

return (0); // terminate with success
}



I changed some settings after reading your posts and have definitely made some progress. I am now receiving 3 errors which aren't really making sense to me. 2 errors say I am missing ; however I don't believe I am. Also it has int as an undeclared identifier , however I thought int was declaring the variable as an integer, so I'm not sure how that is undeclared?

1>d:\my c++ projects\module3exercise3\module3exercise3\exponentiation.cpp(36) : error C2146: syntax error : missing ';' before identifier 'cin'

1>d:\my c++ projects\module3exercise3\module3exercise3\exponentiation.cpp(41) : error C2065: 'Int' : undeclared identifier

1>d:\my c++ projects\module3exercise3\module3exercise3\exponentiation.cpp(41) : error C2146: syntax error : missing ';' before identifier 'y'

You can define i in different places. In the for, it's defined inline (the "int i" part). You can also write that line as:

int i;
for (i=1;i<=y;i++)

Different people do it different ways, personally, I define everything at the top of the function/procedure, all in one area. Others define them near the point they are first used (or when they are first used). Personally, I find it easier to track things down when I know where they are all supposed to be (you can do a Search/Find, but meh).

In re. the increment by 1, yes, that corresponds to i++ in this particular example. However, remember, we're doing pseudocode. You're writing out the logic/thought process, not necessarily the code. Depending on the project needs/algorithm, you may be incrementing by more than 1, or you may be going down (stepping backwards in an array for example).

Welcome to the joys of debugging. Something you'll find as you get into programming is that often, you won't see the simplest/stupidest errors unless you walk away for a bit, then come back to it again. Especially syntax errors. You'll also find that sometimes the error's not happening on the line that it says it is, or that it isn't really related to what it says it is.

In re. the ";" errors. First, remember that you pretty much need to finish off every command in C++ with a ";". If you see it saying that it is missing a ";", you want to look around that line to see if there's any commands missing a ";" at the end.

In the error on line 36, look around that area to see if there's a missing ";".

In the error on line 41, this is an example where the error's not really necessarily related to a missing ";". You have to look at the line to see what you're really intending to do there, to see if it is correct. It looks like you are trying to define variable y as an int and assign it the value of 0.

That's fine, but you already defined it at the top of the function, why are you trying to define it again? Incidentally, I forget if the types are case sensitive or not. Int might not be the same as int.

Also, there's another issue there that you'll need to step through logically to find. Plug in values to the variables and walk through the pseudocode.

Finally, are you sure the curly braces are being used correctly?

This looks fun. One idea though. OOP.

What if I want to declare ^ as a mathematical operator?

Not sure what you mean there. Do you mean use ^ in C++ or to use it as an input to reflect that you want to see an exponentiation (ie 5^4)? Got an example?

This is the 'proper' way to do it but WELL beyond what the OP is asking ..

I assume that you mean you want to define '^' as an operator?

Yeah, so in something such as Java you wouldn't have to use math.pow(x, c);

Thanks for the great advice, I did get the code correct much in part to your responses.

I have seen many posts regarding the way programming is taught and I am agreeing more and more that the idea of understanding the problem and developing a solution should be taught thoroughly before expecting students to write code. I am finding myself trying to write programs when I have no idea really why I am entering some of the information =/

Well, to do that sort of thing really depends on the language. I think for the most part, on the common languages's, you can't extend them like how you are thinking. You would have to create your own compiler to parse the code (which no one pretty much does). I did that for a Compiler course way back in the day. It was interesting for background info, but in the end, way too much damn work for me to want to get into...

For the most part, you either create a function/procedure call you use in the language, or you use a #DEFINE like in C/C++ that acts as a code macro (when compiling your code, it scans through and replaces all those defined values with a function call or the code to do whatever it is you want).

I don't know enough about Java to say how you'd go about it in that language.

Yeah, I see posts alluding to that way of teaching it as well (program a language first). It's been a while, but my recollection was I did algorithms, math (set and boolean theory), and assembler type classes prior to the third gen language type classes and compilers. Different strokes for different universities I guess.

Just remember, try to write it in pseudocode first. You can't solve a problem by tossing code at it until you understand what the problem is, and how you'll solve it in general. Once you've got the general outline and walk through it with test numbers, then you can code to it.

Defining an operator is a basic function of C++, actually ... it is quite easy.

Doing it in Java, though, is quite difficult because it is considered an 'unnecessary complication.'

Yeah... whoever says it's unnecessary should be shot. Math.pow(x, y); Might get the job done but the world would be done a huge favor by having defined ^ to operate with exponents. in programs made solely for exponentiation ^ is obviously the more practical solution. When I get done with my Comp Sci course I'm going to work in python muahahaha

GREAT IDEA!!!
The only problem is, when C was being implemented (and C++ and Java both rely on C syntax), "^" was defined as the bitwise exclusive-or operator. So writing a compiler that used "^" for exponentiation would with almost certainty, break lots of programs that use the "^" as a bitwise operator.
For example:
52 ^ 12 = 56
Math.pow(52, 12) = 390877006486250192896

Obviously, 56 != 390877006486250192896.

then remove the bitwise and change it to something like the @ key.

Whoever declared ^ in the first place didn't know their operators. Perhaps we could use @ symbol for exponentiation instead then? xD. Anything with a one-symbol fix is better than math.pow(56, 12) = x ;