C Programming
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Section A
Answer any two questions.
Difference between exit(0) and exit(1)
The exit() function is a standard library function used to terminate the calling process. The integer argument passed to exit() is known as the exit status or return code, which can be checked by the parent process or the operating system's shell.
-
exit(0):- Conventionally indicates successful execution of the program.
- A return code of 0 signifies that the program completed its task without encountering any errors or issues.
- Operating systems and shell scripts often interpret a 0 exit status as success, allowing subsequent commands or scripts to proceed normally.
-
exit(1)(or any non-zero value):- Conventionally indicates that the program terminated due to an error, a failure, or an abnormal condition.
- A non-zero return code signifies an error. Different non-zero values can sometimes be used to denote specific types of errors, though
exit(1)is a common general error indicator. - Operating systems and shell scripts typically interpret a non-zero exit status as a failure, which might prevent subsequent commands from executing or trigger error handling routines.
Need for Nested Structures with an Example
Nested structures are a powerful feature in programming languages like C and C++ that allow one structure to be declared as a member of another structure.
Need:
- Representing Complex Entities: Real-world entities often have hierarchical relationships or are composed of sub-entities. Nested structures provide a natural and logical way to model such complex data relationships. For example, a
Studentmight have anAddress, and anAddressmight have aCityand aState, which are themselves composed of individual data types. - Logical Grouping: They enable better organization and encapsulation of related data. Instead of creating a flat structure with many loosely related fields, nested structures group logically connected members, making the code more readable and easier to understand.
- Code Reusability: A structure defined once (e.g.,
Date) can be reused as a member in multiple other structures (e.g.,Employee,Student,Event), promoting modularity and reducing redundancy. - Improved Maintainability: Changes to a sub-component (like the
Datestructure) only affect where that structure is used, rather than requiring modifications across a large, flat structure definition.
Example:
Consider representing student information where each student has a name, ID, and a date of birth. The date of birth itself is composed of day, month, and year.
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
// Define a structure for Date
struct Date {
int day;
int month;
int year;
};
// Define a structure for Student, which nests the Date structure
struct Student {
int studentID;
char name[50];
struct Date dateOfBirth; // Nested structure
};
int main() {
// Declare and initialize a Student variable
struct Student s1;
s1.studentID = 101;
strcpy(s1.name, "Alice Smith");
// Accessing members of the nested structure
s1.dateOfBirth.day = 15;
s1.dateOfBirth.month = 6;
s1.dateOfBirth.year = 2003;
// Print student information
printf("Student ID: %d\n", s1.studentID);
printf("Student Name: %s\n", s1.name);
printf("Date of Birth: %02d/%02d/%d\n", s1.dateOfBirth.day, s1.dateOfBirth.month, s1.dateOfBirth.year);
return 0;
}
In this example, the struct Date is nested inside struct Student, allowing student.dateOfBirth.day, student.dateOfBirth.month, and student.dateOfBirth.year to represent a single logical dateOfBirth attribute for the student.
Program to find the value of x^y without using pow()
The following C program calculates x raised to the power of y (x^y) using a loop, without utilizing the pow() function from <math.h>. It handles non-negative integer exponents.
#include <stdio.h>
/**
* @brief Calculates the value of base raised to the power of exponent (base^exponent).
* Assumes non-negative integer exponent.
* @param base The base number.
* @param exponent The exponent (non-negative integer).
* @return The result of base^exponent, or -1 if the exponent is negative.
*/
long long calculate_power(int base, int exponent) {
// Handle negative exponent (not typically covered by simple iteration)
if (exponent < 0) {
printf("Error: Exponent must be a non-negative integer.\n");
return -1; // Indicate an error
}
// Base case: x^0 is 1
if (exponent == 0) {
return 1;
}
// Base case: 0^y for y > 0 is 0
if (base == 0) {
return 0;
}
long long result = 1; // Initialize result to 1
// Loop 'exponent' times, multiplying base in each iteration
for (int i = 0; i < exponent; i++) {
result *= base;
}
return result;
}
int main() {
int x, y;
long long power_value;
printf("Enter the base (x): ");
scanf("%d", &x);
printf("Enter the exponent (y, non-negative integer): ");
scanf("%d", &y);
power_value = calculate_power(x, y);
if (power_value != -1) { // Check if an error occurred
printf("%d raised to the power of %d is: %lld\n", x, y, power_value);
}
return 0;
}
Necessity of Break and Continue Statements
-
breakStatement:- Allows for premature termination of a loop (e.g.,
for,while,do-while) or aswitchstatement. - It transfers control immediately to the statement following the loop or
switchblock. - Need: Essential for scenarios where a loop's execution must cease upon a specific condition being met, regardless of the loop's normal termination condition. Examples include finding an item in a list, encountering an error, or when an optimal state is achieved, preventing unnecessary further iterations.
- Allows for premature termination of a loop (e.g.,
-
continueStatement:- Skips the remaining statements within the current iteration of a loop and proceeds to the next iteration.
- For
forloops, it causes the update expression to be evaluated. Forwhileanddo-whileloops, it directly evaluates the loop's test expression. - Need: Crucial for bypassing specific iterations of a loop based on a condition without exiting the loop entirely. This is useful for filtering data, skipping invalid inputs, or handling exceptional cases within an iteration, optimizing performance by avoiding computations for irrelevant data points.
Formal Argument and Actual Argument in Function
-
Formal Argument (Parameter):
- Definition: Variables declared in the parameter list of a function definition. They act as placeholders for the values that will be passed into the function when it is called. Formal arguments receive their values from the actual arguments during a function call.
- Scope: Local to the function in which they are declared.
- Example: In the function definition
int add(int num1, int num2),num1andnum2are formal arguments.
-
Actual Argument (Argument):
- Definition: The actual values, variables, or expressions passed to a function during its call. These values are copied to the corresponding formal arguments of the function.
- Scope: Variables used as actual arguments must be defined in the scope from which the function is called.
- Example: In the function call
result = add(10, 20);orresult = add(a, b);,10and20(oraandb) are actual arguments.
Errors in the Provided Code
The following errors are identified in the given C code:
-
Missing Semicolon:
- Location:
int a,b,c - Error: The statement declaring
a, b, cis missing a semicolon at the end. - Correction:
int a,b,c;
- Location:
-
Incorrect
scanfFormat String:- Location:
scanf("%d%d%d, &a, &b, &c); - Error: The format string
"%d%d%d,"contains an extra comma after the format specifiers. The comma in the format string expects a literal comma in the input, which is not intended here. - Correction:
scanf("%d%d%d", &a, &b, &c);
- Location:
-
Incorrect Variable Usage in
sumFunction:- Location:
sum = a + b + c;withinvoid sum(int x, int y, int z) - Error: The variables
a,b, andcare not defined within the scope of thesumfunction. The function should use its formal argumentsx,y, andzto perform the sum. - Correction:
sum = x + y + z;
- Location:
-
Return Type Mismatch in
sumFunction:- Location: Function definition
void sum(...)andreturn sum; - Error: The function
sumis declared with avoidreturn type, indicating it does not return any value. However, it attempts toreturn sum;, which is an integer value. - Correction: Change the function's return type to
int. - Revised Function Signature:
int sum(int x, int y, int z)
- Location: Function definition
-
Function Prototype (Implicit Declaration) Issue:
- Location:
sum(a, b, c);inmain()whilesumis defined aftermain(). - Error: In C, a function must be declared (prototyped) before its first call if its definition appears after the calling function. Without a prototype, the compiler might implicitly declare
sumas returningintand taking an unspecified number of arguments, which conflicts with its actualint sum(int, int, int)signature. This can lead to compilation warnings (C89) or errors (C99/C11). - Correction: Add a function prototype before
main():
int sum(int x, int y, int z);
Or, define thesumfunction entirely beforemain().
- Location:
import math
def find_odd_or_even(number):
"""
Determines if a given number is odd or even.
"""
if number % 2 == 0:
print(f"Result: {number} is an Even number.")
else:
print(f"Result: {number} is an Odd number.")
def find_positive_or_negative(number):
"""
Determines if a given number is positive, negative, or zero.
"""
if number > 0:
print(f"Result: {number} is a Positive number.")
elif number < 0:
print(f"Result: {number} is a Negative number.")
else:
print(f"Result: {number} is Zero.")
def calculate_factorial_value(number):
"""
Calculates the factorial of a non-negative integer.
"""
if number < 0:
print("Error: Factorial is not defined for negative numbers.")
elif number == 0:
print(f"Result: The factorial of {number} is 1.")
else:
# Using math.factorial for efficiency and correctness
# For a manual implementation, uncomment the following:
# fact = 1
# for i in range(1, number + 1):
# fact *= i
# print(f"Result: The factorial of {number} is {fact}.")
print(f"Result: The factorial of {number} is {math.factorial(number)}.")
def get_integer_input():
"""
Prompts the user for an integer input and handles ValueError.
"""
while True:
try:
num_str = input("Please enter an integer: ")
number = int(num_str)
return number
except ValueError:
print("Invalid input. Please enter a valid integer.")
def display_menu():
"""
Displays the menu options to the user.
"""
print("\n--- Menu-Driven Program ---")
print("A. Find Odd or Even")
print("B. Find Positive or Negative")
print("C. Find the Factorial value")
print("D. Exit")
print("---------------------------")
# Main program loop
def main_program():
"""
Executes the main menu-driven program logic.
"""
while True:
display_menu()
choice = input("Enter your choice (A, B, C, or D): ").strip().upper()
if choice == 'A':
number = get_integer_input()
find_odd_or_even(number)
elif choice == 'B':
number = get_integer_input()
find_positive_or_negative(number)
elif choice == 'C':
number = get_integer_input()
calculate_factorial_value(number)
elif choice == 'D':
print("Exiting the program. Thank you!")
break
else:
print("Invalid choice. Please select a valid option (A, B, C, D).")
# Entry point of the program
if __name__ == "__main__":
main_program()
Section B
Answer any two questions.
To swap the values of two integers without using a third temporary variable, arithmetic operations (addition and subtraction) can be employed.
Method:
- Add the two numbers and store the result in the first variable. This sum now holds the combined value.
- Subtract the original second number from the new value of the first variable. This will yield the original value of the first variable, which is then assigned to the second variable.
- Subtract the new value of the second variable (which now holds the original first number) from the value of the first variable (which still holds the sum). This will yield the original value of the second variable, which is then assigned to the first variable.
Example Justification:
Let initial values be a = 5 and b = 10.
-
Step 1:
a = a + ba = 5 + 10abecomes15- Current state:
a = 15,b = 10
-
Step 2:
b = a - bb = 15 - 10(Here,ais the newa, andbis the originalb)bbecomes5(Original value ofais now inb)- Current state:
a = 15,b = 5
-
Step 3:
a = a - ba = 15 - 5(Here,ais the sum, andbis the originala)abecomes10(Original value ofbis now ina)- Current state:
a = 10,b = 5
The final values are a = 10 and b = 5, successfully swapping their initial values without a temporary variable.
def sum_digits_recursive(n):
"""
Calculates the sum of the digits of a given integer using recursion.
Parameters:
n (int): The integer whose digits are to be summed.
Returns:
int: The sum of the digits of n.
"""
# Base case: If n is 0, the sum of its digits is 0.
if n == 0:
return 0
# Recursive step:
# Add the last digit (n % 10) to the sum of the digits of the remaining number (n // 10).
return (n % 10) + sum_digits_recursive(n // 10)
# Example Usage:
# number = 12345
# result = sum_digits_recursive(number)
# print(f"The sum of digits of {number} is: {result}")
Differentiation between Constants and Literals
- Literals: These are fixed, raw data values that are directly represented in the source code. They are not stored in named memory locations and have no identifiers. Examples include
10(integer literal),3.14(floating-point literal),"Hello"(string literal),'A'(character literal),true(boolean literal). - Constants: These are named memory locations whose values, once initialized, cannot be changed during the program's execution. They are declared with a specific data type and an identifier, often holding a literal value or the result of an expression. For instance,
const int MAX_USERS = 100;declaresMAX_USERSas an integer constant with a value of100.
Necessity of Defining Data Types
Defining the type of data is crucial for several reasons:
- Memory Allocation: Data types inform the compiler how much memory (number of bytes) to allocate for a variable. For example, an
intmight require 4 bytes, while acharneeds 1 byte, enabling efficient memory management. - Data Interpretation: The type determines how the bit pattern stored in memory should be interpreted. For instance, the same bit pattern could represent an integer, a floating-point number, or a character depending on its defined type.
- Valid Operations: Data types dictate the set of operations that can be performed on the data. Arithmetic operations are valid for numeric types, while string concatenation applies to strings. This prevents nonsensical operations.
- Error Detection: Type checking (performed by the compiler or interpreter) helps detect type-mismatch errors early, preventing runtime issues and ensuring program correctness and reliability.
- Readability and Maintainability: Explicit data types enhance code clarity, making it easier for programmers to understand the intended use and nature of a variable, which improves code readability and maintainability.
def find_second_largest(numbers):
"""
Finds the second largest distinct number in a given array of numbers.
Args:
numbers (list): A list of numerical values.
Returns:
int or float: The second largest distinct number, or None if the array
has fewer than two elements or no distinct second largest number exists.
"""
if len(numbers) < 2:
return None # Array must contain at least two elements to have a second largest.
largest = float('-inf')
second_largest = float('-inf')
for num in numbers:
if num > largest:
second_largest = largest
largest = num
elif num > second_largest and num != largest:
second_largest = num
if second_largest == float('-inf'):
return None # No distinct second largest number found (e.g., all elements are the same or only one distinct element).
return second_largest
# Example Usage:
# numbers_array_1 = [12, 35, 1, 10, 34, 1]
# print(f"Array: {numbers_array_1}, Second Largest: {find_second_largest(numbers_array_1)}")
# # Expected Output: 34
# numbers_array_2 = [10, 10, 10]
# print(f"Array: {numbers_array_2}, Second Largest: {find_second_largest(numbers_array_2)}")
# # Expected Output: None (as there is no distinct second largest)
# numbers_array_3 = [5, 2, 8, 1, 9]
# print(f"Array: {numbers_array_3}, Second Largest: {find_second_largest(numbers_array_3)}")
# # Expected Output: 8
# numbers_array_4 = [7]
# print(f"Array: {numbers_array_4}, Second Largest: {find_second_largest(numbers_array_4)}")
# # Expected Output: None (array too small)
# numbers_array_5 = [7, 7, 10, 10, 12]
# print(f"Array: {numbers_array_5}, Second Largest: {find_second_largest(numbers_array_5)}")
# # Expected Output: 10
Structure Definition:
struct Employee {
char name[50];
char address[100];
float salary;
int age;
};
Display Logic:
To display the names of employees aged between 40 and 50 who live in Kathmandu, the following steps would be implemented:
- An array or list of
Employeestructures is created and populated with employee data. - A loop iterates through each
Employeerecord in the collection. - Inside the loop, for each
Employee, two conditions are checked simultaneously:employee.age >= 40 && employee.age <= 50strcmp(employee.address, "Kathmandu") == 0(assuming case-sensitive comparison for "Kathmandu").
- If both conditions evaluate to true for an employee, their
employee.nameis printed to the console.
Advantage of Pointers:
- Pointers enable dynamic memory allocation, allowing programs to manage memory during runtime by allocating and deallocating blocks as needed, which is crucial for data structures like linked lists and trees.
Disadvantage of Pointers:
- Improper use of pointers can lead to serious issues such as memory leaks (allocated memory not freed), dangling pointers (pointers pointing to deallocated memory), or segmentation faults, making debugging difficult.
Passing Pointers as Function Arguments:
Pointers are passed as function arguments to achieve "pass by reference" functionality. This allows a function to modify the actual value of a variable in the calling function's scope, rather than just working on a copy.
- Declaration: The function parameter is declared as a pointer to the desired data type.
- Calling: When calling the function, the address of the variable (using the
&operator) is passed as an argument. - Dereferencing: Inside the function, the pointer is dereferenced (using the
*operator) to access or modify the value stored at that memory address.
Example Syntax:
void modifyValue(int *ptr) {
*ptr = 100; // Modifies the value at the address pointed to by ptr
}
int main() {
int num = 10;
modifyValue(&num); // Passes the address of num
// After this call, num will be 100
return 0;
}
import os
def is_prime(n):
"""
Checks if a number is prime.
Args:
n (int): The number to check.
Returns:
bool: True if n is prime, False otherwise.
"""
if n <= 1:
return False
if n <= 3:
return True
if n % 2 == 0 or n % 3 == 0:
return False
i = 5
while i * i <= n:
if n % i == 0 or n % (i + 2) == 0:
return False
i += 6
return True
def extract_primes_from_file(input_filename="Num.txt", output_filename="Prime.txt"):
"""
Reads integers from an input file, extracts prime numbers,
and writes them to an output file.
Args:
input_filename (str): Path to the input file containing integers.
output_filename (str): Path to the output file for prime numbers.
"""
try:
with open(input_filename, 'r') as infile:
with open(output_filename, 'w') as outfile:
for line in infile:
try:
num = int(line.strip())
if is_prime(num):
outfile.write(str(num) + '\n')
except ValueError:
print(f"Skipping non-integer line: {line.strip()}")
print(f"Prime numbers successfully extracted from '{input_filename}' to '{output_filename}'.")
except FileNotFoundError:
print(f"Error: Input file '{input_filename}' not found.")
except Exception as e:
print(f"An unexpected error occurred: {e}")
# Example usage (demonstrates functionality, not part of the required answer structure)
# Create a dummy input file for testing
# with open("Num.txt", "w") as f:
# f.write("1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n13\n17\n-5\n29\nhello\n")
# Call the main function
# extract_primes_from_file()
# Verify the output file content
# with open("Prime.txt", "r") as f:
# print("\nContent of Prime.txt:")
# print(f.read())
Advantage of Union over Structure:
A union conserves memory by allocating space only for its largest member, with all members sharing the same memory location. This is advantageous when only one member's value is relevant or in use at any given time, unlike a structure which allocates distinct memory for each of its members.
Four String Library Functions with Prototype:
char *strcpy(char *dest, const char *src);size_t strlen(const char *str);char *strcat(char *dest, const char *src);int strcmp(const char *str1, const char *str2);
Local, Global, and Static variables
-
Local Variables:
- Declared inside a function or block.
- Scope is limited to the function or block where declared.
- Lifetime is from the point of declaration until the function or block execution completes.
- Stored on the stack.
-
Global Variables:
- Declared outside any function, typically at the top of the program.
- Scope extends throughout the entire program; accessible from any function.
- Lifetime is for the entire duration of the program's execution.
- Stored in the data segment.
-
Static Variables:
- Declared using the
statickeyword. - Static Local Variable:
- Scope is limited to the function or block where declared, similar to a local variable.
- Lifetime is for the entire duration of the program's execution; its value persists across multiple function calls.
- Initialized only once.
- Stored in the data segment.
- Static Global Variable:
- Scope is limited to the file in which it is declared, preventing access from other files.
- Lifetime is for the entire duration of the program's execution.
- Stored in the data segment.
- Declared using the
Conditional Operator
-
Also known as the ternary operator, it is a shorthand for an
if-elsestatement that returns a value. -
It evaluates a condition and returns one of two specified values based on whether the condition is true or false.
-
Syntax:
condition ? expression_if_true : expression_if_false; -
Example:
int x = 10; int y = 20; int max = (x > y) ? x : y; // max will be 20In this example, if
x > yis true,xis assigned tomax; otherwise,yis assigned.