C/C++ Troubleshooting C++ Circle Area Calculation

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around troubleshooting a C++ project intended to calculate the area and circumference of a circle, as well as properties of a right triangle. Key issues identified include the incorrect use of data types, such as declaring pi as an integer instead of a double, which leads to loss of precision. Participants point out that variables must be squared after user input is received, not before, to avoid using uninitialized values. Further, there are syntax errors, such as missing semicolons and incorrect usage of the output stream (using ">>" instead of "<<"). The conversation also highlights the need for proper validation of inputs, particularly for the hypotenuse in triangle calculations, suggesting the use of loops to ensure valid inputs. Additionally, there is a suggestion to improve the precision of pi by using mathematical functions instead of a hardcoded value. Overall, the discussion emphasizes the importance of logical flow in programming and the need for careful attention to syntax and data types.
JamesU
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What's wrong with this C++ project I'm working on? it's supposed to find the area of a circle:

#include <cstdlib>
#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
int pi = 3.14
int rad
int radsqr = rad*rad
cout << "radius of the circle:" <<
cin >> rad
cout >> "The radius of the circle is about:" << radsqr*pi << end1;

system("PAUSE");
return EXIT_SUCCESS;
}
 
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It's been a while since I've done programming, but looking at it quickly, I just notice that you said int pi =3.14, but int only stores integers so your really saying int pi =3 . This may not be the only problem, but its the one that I see.
 
Ahh what a mess! Try this:

Code:
double pi = 3.14 ;
double rad ;
cout << "radius of the circle:" ;
cin >> rad ;
cout << "The radius of the circle is about:" << rad*rad*pi << endl ;
 
Last edited:
oh, I meant 'the area of the circle is about:'

but thanks.
 
Oh, and you square rad before it gets the input from the user. That means that since rad starts out as random garbage before you give it a value, radsqr is random garbage squared. You have to square it after the line that says cin<<... to get what you want. So if you make that change and change the int's to float's it should work.
 
grrr...Now I can't get the circumference to show up:
Code:
#include <cstdlib>
#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{

double pi = 3.14 ;
int rad ;
cout << "radius of the circle:" ;
cin >> rad ;
cout << "The area of the circle is about:" << rad*rad*pi << endl;
cout << "The circumference of the circle is about:" << rad*2*pi <<
    system("PAUSE");
    return EXIT_SUCCESS;
}
it only displays the area
 
Actually you probably want rad to be double too since you can have decimal values.

Why do you have a hanging << at the end of the circumference line? Dont' forget the endl;
 
it says:

stupid dev C++ said:
`end1' is undeclared (first use this function)
 
It's endl, not end1(end-lowercase L, not end-one)
 
  • #10
Its the letter "L", but lower case. Not the number "1"
 
  • #11
oh, I'm stupid. It's the font on my compiler that's confusing me
 
  • #12
my formula calculation is complete:

Radius of the circle: 3
The area of the circle is about: 28.26
The circumference of the circle is about: 18.84
The diameter of the circle is: 6

muahaha :devil:
 
  • #13
Congrats! Now try something more difficult like calculate pascal's triangle.
 
  • #14
I'll work my way up.

what was pascal's triangle? the 3/4/5 one? in trig?
 
  • #15
aha! basic trig :cool:

Code:
#include <cstdlib>
#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
double hyp
double opp
double adj
cout << "Input sides of a right triangle
cout << "Hypotenuse:" << endl;
cin >> hyp
cout << "opposite" << endl;
cin >> opp
cout << "adjacent" << endl;
cin >> adj
cout << "Triangle's properties are:" << endl;
cout << "Sine:" adj/hyp " Cosine:" opp/hyp " Tangent:" opp/adj
system("PAUSE");
return EXIT_SUCCESS;
}
 
  • #17
unfortunately, I do not understand that :frown:

The flaw in my trig program is that anyone can put the hypotenuse as a smaller length than the opposite or adjacent sides. could I do an if statement that if this happens, function main() will execute again?
 
  • #18
Or you could just have a loop that continues to ask for the hypotenuse until it is an accepatable value.
 
  • #19
something like?

for ((hyp<opp)||(hyp<adj))
{
cin >> hyp
}
 
  • #20
A do while loop would be appropriate:

do {
cin >> hyp ;
} while ( (hyp < opp) || (hyp<adj) ) ;
 
  • #21
okay, and where would I put it in the code? right after sin cos and adj are specified, right?
 
  • #22
Well, in order to compare hyp you need to know the value of opp and adj, so after you get those to values then you can stick the above code in.

Programming is a logical process. Whatever the flow of the code, it has to make sense. You can't just be comparing variables that don't have any specified value.
 
  • #23
now it says that there should be a semicolon before the variable declaration, like:

;double

and it says that on that same line, there's a missing terminating character.

Code:
#include <cstdlib>
#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
double hyp
double opp
double adj
cout << "Input sides of a right triangle
cout << "Hypotenuse:" << endl;
cin >> hyp
cout << "opposite" << endl;
cin >> opp
cout << "adjacent" << endl;
cin >> adj
#include <cstdlib>
#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
double hyp
double opp
double adj
cout << "Input sides of a right triangle
cout << "Hypotenuse:" << endl;
cin >> hyp
cout << "opposite" << endl;
cin >> opp
cout << "adjacent" << endl;
cin >> adj
cout << "Triangle's properties are:" << endl;
cout << "Sine:" adj/hyp " Cosine:" opp/hyp " Tangent:" opp/adj
system("PAUSE");
return EXIT_SUCCESS;
}
cout << "Triangle's properties are:" << endl;
cout << "Sine:" adj/hyp " Cosine:" opp/hyp " Tangent:" opp/adj
system("PAUSE");
return EXIT_SUCCESS;
}
 
  • #24
In order to get a better precision in your pi-value than 3.14, a common strategy is to define your pi as follows:

double pi=4*atan(1);

Where atan is the arcus-tangent function.
If your machine doesn't accept "atan()", try arctan() instead.
 
  • #25
can anyone help with my trig functions?
 

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