Computing Fundamentals
Introduction
C language
• Compact, fast, and powerful
• “Mid-level” Language
• Wide acceptance
• Supports modular programming style
• Useful for all
• Applications
• C is the native language of UNIX
Programming
• Computers are dumb devices that perform only the tasks applied by
the user
Levels of programming languages
Scripting language (R,
Python)
Mid/High level languages (C,
C++)
Assembly language
Machine language (Binary 0110010)
Hardware
C language
• (1970s) Pioneered by Dennis Ritchie
• Mid-level language
• (1983) Standardized by The American National Standards Institute
(ANSI)
• (1999) Last major changes adopted
First program
#include <stdio.h>
main()
{
/* My first program */
printf(“Alsalam Alikom \n");
}
• Case sensitive
• End each statement with a semicolon except comments
• Starting point identified by main()
• Braces {} signify the begin and end of the program
Understanding first program
• #include <stdio.h>
• Should be included at the beginning of every program
• Informs the compiler about the input and output statements like printf
• int main (void)
• Informs the compiler that the name of the program is main
• It returns an integer value “int.”
• main is a special name that indicates program execution starts.
• The keyword void that is enclosed in the parentheses specifies that the function
main takes no arguments
• return 0;
• Labels the completion of execution of main ,
• Returns to the system a status value of 0 (You can use any integer here)
• Zero is used by convention to indicate that the program completed successfully
Functions
• Will be discussed later on
Variable
Function
Return
printf options
• printf(“Alsalamo Alikom \n");
• function in the C library that simply prints or displays its argument on screen
• \n means newline. After printing Alsalam Alikom go to a new for extra printing
• All program statements in C must be terminated by a semicolon (;).
%i or %d int
%c char
%f float
%s string
How does the computer work
• What are the possible operations
• 2*2 What is pi?
• 4*A What is the
diameter?
What does the
• How to calculate the area of a circle?
area mean?
• Area=r*r*pi
Which numbers
are numeric and
which numbers
are float?
Declarations
• Declare an integer int x;
• Declare a charachter char x;
• Declare a float number (with decimal places)float x;
• Mulitple declarations are allowed int x,y,z;
• Conditions of variable names
• Names are case sensitive ex. int x; int X;
• No dollar sign ex. int comp$fund;
• Underscores are allowed ex. int comp_fund;
• Names can contain numbers but not at the beginning ex int comp3; int 3comp;
• Names can not be keywords of C language ex. int int; int char; int long;
Initializations
• int x;
• x=5;
• int x=5;
• float pi=3.14;
• char x=‘A’;
• int x=5,y=3,z=2;
What is wrong here?
• int x
• int X$E;
• Int X=‘A’;
• Int X=3.14;
• Char X=3;
• char X=‘3’;
• Char ABC_DEF=‘A’
Arithmetic Operators in C language
Operator Description Example
+ Adds two operands. A + B = 30
Subtracts second operand from the
− A − B = -10
first.
A = 10 * Multiplies both operands. A * B = 200
B = 20
/ Divides numerator by de-numerator. B/A=2
Modulus Operator and remainder of
% B%A=0
after an integer division.
Increment operator increases the
++ A++ = 11
integer value by one.
Decrement operator decreases the
-- A-- = 9
integer value by one.
Decimal points will be lost if variable is declared as int instead of float
Area of a circle
#include<stdio.h>
main()
{
float radius, area;
radius=3.1;
area = 3.14 * radius * radius;
printf("Area of Circle : %f", area);
}
Lets test what we learned
#include <stdio.h>
6 + a / 5 * b = 16
int main (void) a / b * b = 24
{ c / d * d = 25.000000
-a = -25
int a = 25;
int b = 2;
float c = 25.0;
float d = 2.0;
printf ("6 + a / 5 * b = %i\n", 6 + a / 5 * b);
printf ("a / b * b = %i\n", a / b * b);
printf ("c / d * d = %f\n", c / d * d);
printf ("-a = %i\n", -a);
return 0;
}
