54
|
In mathematics, a function $$f$$ is a rule that is used to assign to each element $$x$$ from a set called *domain*, one (and only one) element $$y$$ from a set called *range*. This rule is commonly represented with an equation, $$y=f(x)$$. The variable $$x$$ is the parameter of the function and the variable $$y$$ will contain the result of the function. A function can have more than one parameter, but only one result. For example, a function can have the form $$y=f(x_1,x_2)$$ where there are two parameters, and for each pair $$(a,b)$$ that is used as an argument in the function and the function will have only one value of $$y=f(a,b)$$. The domain of the function tells us the type of value that the parameter should have and the range tells us the value that the returned result will have.
|
54
|
In mathematics, a function $$f$$ is a rule that is used to assign to each element $$x$$ from a set called *domain*, one (and only one) element $$y$$ from a set called *range*. This rule is commonly represented with an equation, $$y=f(x)$$. The variable $$x$$ is the parameter of the function and the variable $$y$$ will contain the result of the function. A function can have more than one parameter, but only one result. For example, a function can have the form $$y=f(x_1,x_2)$$ where there are two parameters, and for each pair $$(a,b)$$ that is used as an argument in the function and the function will have only one value of $$y=f(a,b)$$. The domain of the function tells us the type of value that the parameter should have and the range tells us the value that the returned result will have.
|
56
|
-Functions in programming languages are similar. A function has a series of instructions that take the assigned values as parameters and perform a certain task. In C++ and other programming languages, functions return only one result, as it happens in mathematics. The only difference is that a *programming* function could possibly not return any value (in this case the function is declared as `void`). If the function will return a value, we use the instruction `return`. As in math, you need to specify the types of values that the function's parameters and result will have; this is done when declaring the function.
|
|
|
|
|
56
|
+Functions in programming languages are similar. A function has a series of instructions that take the assigned values as parameters and perform a certain task. In C++ and other programming languages, functions return only one result, as it happens in mathematics. The only difference is that a *programming* function could possibly not return any value (in this case the function is declared as `void`). If the function will return a value, we use the instruction `return`. As in math that you need to specify the domain and range, in programming you need to specify the types of values that the function's parameters and result will have; this is done when declaring the function.
|