Calculating Triangle Area Using C++ Programming

[ineedhelpnow]

can u give me an example on how to test it? i want to make sure that it also prints an error statement.

 

[MarkFL]

can u give me an example on how to test it? i want to make sure that it also prints an error statement.

The if statement is already testing $r$ to see if it is positive. We require $r$ to be positive in order to have a valid triangle.

If you want to make certain that the error message is displayed, then let:

a = 1.0
b = 1.0
c = 3.0

This should trigger an error because $r$ will be negative.

 

[ineedhelpnow]

when i put those numbers in instead, the screen that displays the statement opens for like half a second then closes immediately :(

 

[MarkFL]

when i put those numbers in instead, the screen that displays the statement opens for like half a second then closes immediately :(

When the input is valid, does the output window stay open?

 

[ineedhelpnow]

yes but the window should only close if their is something wrong with the program. now it won't even print error.

 

[MarkFL]

yes but the window should only close if their is something wrong with the program. now it won't even print error.

The only thing I can suggest is to make sure you are using [m]cout[/m] correctly by reading the documentation provided...I am not familiar with this method of output.

 

[ineedhelpnow]

is it possible that the cin statement is causing a problem?

#include <iostream>
#include <cmath>
using namspace std;

int main () {
     double a=0.0;
     double b=0.0;
     double c=0.0;
     double s=0.0;
     double r=0.0;
     double areaofTriangle=0.0;

a=1.0;
b=1.0;
c=3.0;
s=(a+b+c) / 2;
r=s*((s-a)*(s-b)*(s-c));
areaofTriangle=sqrt(r);

if (r>0) {
       areaofTriangle = sqrt(r);
       cout << "The area of a triangle with the three given sides " << a << ", " << b << ", " << c << " is " << areaofTriangle << "." << endl; 
       cin >> areaofTriangle;
}
else {
       cout << "Error." << endl;
}

return 0;
}

- - - Updated - - -

so i definitely don't need to use && commands for the if statement?

 

[alyafey22]

Don't calculate the square root until you're sure that $r$ is positive.

 

[MarkFL]

is it possible that the cin statement is causing a problem?

#include <iostream>
#include <cmath>
using namspace std;

int main () {
     double a=0.0;
     double b=0.0;
     double c=0.0;
     double s=0.0;
     double r=0.0;
     double areaofTriangle=0.0;

a=1.0;
b=1.0;
c=3.0;
s=(a+b+c) / 2;
r=s*((s-a)*(s-b)*(s-c));
areaofTriangle=sqrt(r);

if (r>0) {
       areaofTriangle = sqrt(r);
       cout << "The area of a triangle with the three given sides " << a << ", " << b << ", " << c << " is " << areaofTriangle << "." << endl; 
       cin >> areaofTriangle;
}
else {
       cout << "Error." << endl;
}

return 0;
}

- - - Updated - - -

so i definitely don't need to use && commands for the if statement?

The error is that you are computing the area of the triangle before testing the value of $r$. :D

Try:

#include <iostream>
#include <cmath>
using namspace std;

int main () {
     double a=0.0;
     double b=0.0;
     double c=0.0;
     double s=0.0;
     double r=0.0;
     double areaofTriangle=0.0;

a=1.0;
b=1.0;
c=3.0;
s=(a+b+c) / 2;
r=s*((s-a)*(s-b)*(s-c));

if (r>0) {
       areaofTriangle = sqrt(r);
       cout << "The area of a triangle with the three given sides " << a << ", " << b << ", " << c << " is " << areaofTriangle << "." << endl; 
       cin >> areaofTriangle;
}
else {
       cout << "Error." << endl;
}

return 0;
}

 

[ineedhelpnow]

thats why i have if (r>0)

How do i test the value of r?

 

[MarkFL]

thats why i have if (r>0)

How do i test the value of r?

The if statement is testing $r$ to see if it is positive...

 

[ineedhelpnow]

The error is that you are computing the area of the triangle before testing the value of $r$. :D

Try:

#include <iostream>
#include <cmath>
using namspace std;

int main () {
     double a=0.0;
     double b=0.0;
     double c=0.0;
     double s=0.0;
     double r=0.0;
     double areaofTriangle=0.0;

a=1.0;
b=1.0;
c=3.0;
s=(a+b+c) / 2;
r=s*((s-a)*(s-b)*(s-c));

if (r>0) {
       areaofTriangle = sqrt(r);
       cout << "The area of a triangle with the three given sides " << a << ", " << b << ", " << c << " is " << areaofTriangle << "." << endl; 
       cin >> areaofTriangle;
}
else {
       cout << "Error." << endl;
}

return 0;
}

what did you do different? (mark you HAVE to get rid of the time gap between posts)

- - - Updated - - -

oh i see. well its still closing the window immediately

 

[MarkFL]

what did you do different? (mark you HAVE to get rid of the time gap between posts)

I removed the statement computing the area of the triangle before the if-else construct. We only want to compute the area once we are certain that the radicand $r$ is positive.

Flood control is a standard feature on all forums that I have ever been a part of. It is there to prevent users from flooding a thread or forum with posts made in rapid succession. :D

 

[ineedhelpnow]

i removed that statement and its STILL not working (ps i appreciate all your help)

(flood control is driving me nuts. just let the flood be (Dull))

 

[MarkFL]

i removed that statement and its STILL not working (ps i appreciate all your help)

Okay, did you check the provided documentation on the output statement [m]cout[/m] to see if your syntax is correct?

 

[ineedhelpnow]

i didnt see a document but I am pretty sure I am doing the cout statements correctly. buuuuuuuut anyways I GOT IT I GOT IT I GOT IT I GOT IT! i needed a cin statement for the else command. thank u!

 

[MarkFL]

i didnt see a document but I am pretty sure I am doing the cout statements correctly. buuuuuuuut anyways I GOT IT I GOT IT I GOT IT I GOT IT! i needed a cin statement for the else command. thank u!

That was actually going to be my next suggestion...:D

Glad you got it working correctly! (Yes)

 

[ineedhelpnow]

That was actually going to be my next suggestion...:D

sure it was

#include <iostream>
#include <cmath>
using namespace std;

int main () {
     double a=0.0;
     double b=0.0;
     double c=0.0;
     double s=0.0;
     double r=0.0;
     double areaofTriangle=0.0;

a=1.0;
b=1.0;
c=3.0;
s=(a+b+c) / 2;
r=s*((s-a)*(s-b)*(s-c));

if (r>0) {
       areaofTriangle = sqrt(r);
       cout << "The area of a triangle with the three given sides " << a << ", " << b << ", " << c << " is " << areaofTriangle << "." << endl; 
       cin >> areaofTriangle;
}
else {
       cout << "Error." << endl;
       cin >> areaofTriangle;
}

return 0;
}

 

[ineedhelpnow]

i actually didnt meet one of the conditions. that two of the sides has to be greater than one of them. or something like that...

 

[MarkFL]

i actually didnt meet one of the conditions. that two of the sides has to be greater than one of them. or something like that...

The condition that [m]r[/m] must be positive is equivalent to satisfying the triangle inequality. :D

 

[ineedhelpnow]

(Shake) he failed me on the assignment because i missed that second condition. he's giving a second chance though. also in my program, i stored the variables a b and c which was wrong.

 

[MarkFL]

(Shake) he failed me on the assignment because i missed that second condition. he's giving a second chance though. also in my program, i stored the variables a b and c which was wrong.

If it were me, I would present to my professor an algebraic argument demonstrating that the positive value of [m]r[/m] is in fact equivalent to the triangle inequality.

 

[ineedhelpnow]

yeah i could present him with a present lol i don't think he would care. he told me that i had to satisfy both conditions. i don't understand why because the program would still run properly once i get rid of what i stored for a,b, and c but he said i have to put that second condition.

 

[MarkFL]

yeah i could present him with a present lol i don't think he would care. he told me that i had to satisfy both conditions. i don't understand why because the program would still run properly once i get rid of what i stored for a,b, and c but he said i have to put that second condition.

I would still make such an argument, but this is up to you. The way you have it coded now is much more efficient than having to determine which is the largest of the 3 values, and then make certain that the sum of the other two sides is greater than it. But, if in the end your professor is adamant and unmoved by a well-reasoned argument, you must do what you must do.

 

[ineedhelpnow]

he wants us to fulfill the second condition because he wants us to be able to code it properly. to have us use all the different types of commands and functions.

 

[MarkFL]

he wants us to fulfill the second condition because he wants us to be able to code it properly. to have us use all the different types of commands and functions.

You are fulfilling the triangle inequality, with one statement, but you know your professor better than I do, so do what you think is best. :D